Christiane Gross, Heinz-Dieter Meyer, and Andreas Hadjar
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781447326106
- eISBN:
- 9781447326212
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781447326106.003.0002
- Subject:
- Education, Educational Policy and Politics
The main objective of this chapter is to theorise how education systems shape inequalities. In the first part of the chapter, we outline an institutionalist theoretical approach and offer an ...
More
The main objective of this chapter is to theorise how education systems shape inequalities. In the first part of the chapter, we outline an institutionalist theoretical approach and offer an illustrative case comparison regarding the institutionalisation of educational inequalities in Germany and the United States. Although the principle of equal educational opportunity seems almost universally accepted, nations often face seemingly intractable obstacles towards its realisation. In the second part, we adopt a multi-level perspective to better explain the effect of education systems on educational inequalities. Integrating causal influences at the macro-, meso-, and micro-level, we describe how characteristics of education systems at the macro-level and school characteristics at the meso-level influence the relevance of individual attributes (of students, their parents, and teachers) to the educational attainment of students. In a second step, we deal with explanations of educational inequalities at the individual level.Less
The main objective of this chapter is to theorise how education systems shape inequalities. In the first part of the chapter, we outline an institutionalist theoretical approach and offer an illustrative case comparison regarding the institutionalisation of educational inequalities in Germany and the United States. Although the principle of equal educational opportunity seems almost universally accepted, nations often face seemingly intractable obstacles towards its realisation. In the second part, we adopt a multi-level perspective to better explain the effect of education systems on educational inequalities. Integrating causal influences at the macro-, meso-, and micro-level, we describe how characteristics of education systems at the macro-level and school characteristics at the meso-level influence the relevance of individual attributes (of students, their parents, and teachers) to the educational attainment of students. In a second step, we deal with explanations of educational inequalities at the individual level.
Andreas Hadjar and Christiane Gross (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781447326106
- eISBN:
- 9781447326212
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781447326106.001.0001
- Subject:
- Education, Educational Policy and Politics
Recent research has shown profound impacts of institutional settings of education systems on educational inequalities, i.e. systematic disadvantages and advantages in education being structured by ...
More
Recent research has shown profound impacts of institutional settings of education systems on educational inequalities, i.e. systematic disadvantages and advantages in education being structured by characteristics like class, gender, ethnicity, (dis)ability and their intersections. The main education system characteristics which have been identified as driving forces are stratification (tracking), standardisation and vocational specificity. The text centres on questions of how and via which social factors and processes these characteristics of education systems produce inequalities – not only in educational attainment but also in status attainment and life chances. The first part of the book comprises contributions that focus on theory and methods to examine the effects of educational systems on educational inequalities. The second part contains works on the influences of social attributes on educational attainment in terms of competencies or credentials. The third and last part of the book centres on social inequalities in educational returns while including both job related factors (job prestige, income, etc.) and nonmonetary educational returns (health, well-being, etc.). Finally, a discussion on “good” and “bad” education systems centres on the question of how an ideal education system could look like.Less
Recent research has shown profound impacts of institutional settings of education systems on educational inequalities, i.e. systematic disadvantages and advantages in education being structured by characteristics like class, gender, ethnicity, (dis)ability and their intersections. The main education system characteristics which have been identified as driving forces are stratification (tracking), standardisation and vocational specificity. The text centres on questions of how and via which social factors and processes these characteristics of education systems produce inequalities – not only in educational attainment but also in status attainment and life chances. The first part of the book comprises contributions that focus on theory and methods to examine the effects of educational systems on educational inequalities. The second part contains works on the influences of social attributes on educational attainment in terms of competencies or credentials. The third and last part of the book centres on social inequalities in educational returns while including both job related factors (job prestige, income, etc.) and nonmonetary educational returns (health, well-being, etc.). Finally, a discussion on “good” and “bad” education systems centres on the question of how an ideal education system could look like.
Christiane Gross and Andreas Hadjar
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781447326106
- eISBN:
- 9781447326212
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781447326106.003.0017
- Subject:
- Education, Educational Policy and Politics
The conclusion presents an overview of the text, summarising the contents of each section. It then goes on to state that, through the findings of the previous chapters, the authors have come to the ...
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The conclusion presents an overview of the text, summarising the contents of each section. It then goes on to state that, through the findings of the previous chapters, the authors have come to the conclusion that producing equal opportunities for students should be one of the main functions of any education system. However, it is not simple to explain how inequality in education systems occurs or how to ratify it. There are many characteristics of education systems which contribute to inequality such as vocational specificity, stratification and standardisation, as well as many social characteristics, including gender, ethnicity, dis/ability, etc. A majority of the research performed in the text indicates that stratification has a strong effect on the (in)equality of education systems. However, the authors conclude by stating that focusing on only one feature of an education system may not be sufficient to cause any real changes.Less
The conclusion presents an overview of the text, summarising the contents of each section. It then goes on to state that, through the findings of the previous chapters, the authors have come to the conclusion that producing equal opportunities for students should be one of the main functions of any education system. However, it is not simple to explain how inequality in education systems occurs or how to ratify it. There are many characteristics of education systems which contribute to inequality such as vocational specificity, stratification and standardisation, as well as many social characteristics, including gender, ethnicity, dis/ability, etc. A majority of the research performed in the text indicates that stratification has a strong effect on the (in)equality of education systems. However, the authors conclude by stating that focusing on only one feature of an education system may not be sufficient to cause any real changes.
Andreas Hadjar and Christiane Gross
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781447326106
- eISBN:
- 9781447326212
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781447326106.003.0001
- Subject:
- Education, Educational Policy and Politics
The introduction discusses the background of political and public awareness of education systems and the various reasons for which countries might criticize their own systems and the ways in which ...
More
The introduction discusses the background of political and public awareness of education systems and the various reasons for which countries might criticize their own systems and the ways in which they might attempt to reform them. It discusses the overall theme of the text, questioning how characteristics of education systems shape educational inequalities. The unique characteristics of education systems are varied and multi-layered. Education systems are affected by factors such as stratification, vocational specificity, and standardisation, while also being affected by factors of social context such as migration, welfare and gender regimes. The introduction explains how the text will determine the ways in which these individual characteristics affect the inequalities of educational systems in various countries, delivering an international perspective on a topic that has global effects.Less
The introduction discusses the background of political and public awareness of education systems and the various reasons for which countries might criticize their own systems and the ways in which they might attempt to reform them. It discusses the overall theme of the text, questioning how characteristics of education systems shape educational inequalities. The unique characteristics of education systems are varied and multi-layered. Education systems are affected by factors such as stratification, vocational specificity, and standardisation, while also being affected by factors of social context such as migration, welfare and gender regimes. The introduction explains how the text will determine the ways in which these individual characteristics affect the inequalities of educational systems in various countries, delivering an international perspective on a topic that has global effects.
