Socioeconomic Status

"Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class) Social class influences socioeconomic status because of how people are treated depending on the class they come from, which may be determined by various factors.
Socioeconomic status strongly influences the varying student perspectives on the value and attainability of higher education. The probability of students attending schools of higher education is more likely in students from higher socio-economic backgrounds.
Education can increase opportunities for income and job security. One's level of education can also be an indicator of socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status is based on income, but too often is connected to race as well.
Individuals with lower incomes and less education (usually women and members of racial/ethnic groups) have higher death rates than better educated, wealthier people, and the differences between these groups are increasing.
Higher Education
The increasing cost of colleges and universities seems to be a deterrent for students of lower socioeconomic status. Students may feel that cost itself would hold them back. This belief, although commonly held, might be overcome if the students were counseled to find economic assistance through scholarships and loans.
Children whose parents are of a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to have higher IQs, test better, and advance their education further than those of a lower socioeconomic status. (Levitt, S. and Dubner S. 168-169) This may be due to several reasons. First, there is genetics: if the parents received advanced education, they are probably intelligent and therefore passed that on to their children. These parents are more likely to value education because of their experience in the effects of higher education. (Levitt. S and Dubner S. 168-169) Students whose parents don't have advanced degrees don't have time or money to spend on helping their children advance to a higher level. Therefore, a cycle is created where those in middle and lower classes generally stay in those classes.
Health
Lower socioeconomic status can be a factor in poor health. Studies have shown mental health to be impaired due to the daily stress due to unemployment, economic displacement, and housing dislocation, including homelessness.[[1]] In addition, it is more difficult to provide healthy food, safe communities, and clean work environments in areas of lower socioeconomic status.
On the flip side, those people with higher socioeconomic status have more exposure to health care and information that promotes healthy behaviors.
Lack of knowledge is one of the contributing factors for poor health in many people of lower socioeconomic status. Many who are not educated enough do not know and understand what it means to eat healthy and fails to see the consequences of unhealthy diets. Thus, it leads to poor health.- A.S
Technology
In today's society, students of lower socioeconomic background are generally lacking the technology needed to keep up with the general population. The obvious reason is the high price of technology.
Studies have shown that by using computers and the internet in the classroom helps to equalize students of all socioeconmic backgrounds. It allows students to be more involved academically and professionally in their futures. They may even become as technologically literate as their more economically advantaged peers.
Signed ‿life experiences‿, testimonies and stories
NEA Executive Committee member Marsha Smith ran into a former, very smart student working at her local home-improvement store. The girl had graduated from high school and decided not to go to college because it was going to cost too much money. Smith knew the girl could have been wearing "a white coat or a black robe". (NEA Today, May 2005)
Success Stories http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/resource/indss/isocio.htm
Our school district has over 50% of its students on free or reduced lunch. We had a series of Ruby Payne workshops to help teachers better understand poverty level students. I learned things like kids in poverty talk loud not because they are angry or upset but because everyone in their household talks loud. I would highly recommend the Ruby Payne workshops to any teacher who works with low socioeconomic students. E. Morrison
It has always troubled me that music programs are often only accessible to students who can afford to rent or buy an instrument. Many students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds would benefit from the many aspects offered by education in music. I have worked in a school board where the school owned provided instruments for all students and was amazed at how many students of all socioeconomic levels were in the band, which is uncommon. As a result of this, I beleive that instruments should be accessible to all students who wish to play.-G. Vigneron
While I agree that intelligence and genetics play a role in keeping people in their socio-economic classes, there are also thousands (millions?) of exceptions. I've worked with hundreds of extremely intelligent children who live in poverty. The natural ability is there, but it has not been nurtured and cultivated. The parents lack the life experiences to know how to advance their children, thus the cycle continues. T. Stilts
References and other links of interest
Social class
Socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and selective college admissions[2]
National School Lunch Program Program Facts, Program History & Eligibility, etc.
enGauge. "Indicator: Socioeconomic Equity." North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. 1995-2004. http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/framewk/equ/soc/equsocin.htm
James, Richard. "Socioeconomic Background and Higher Education Participation: An analysis of school students' aspirations and expectations." Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne. April 2002. http://www.dest.gov.au/archive/highered/eippubs/eip02_5/eip02_5.pdf
Levitt, Steven D. and Dubner, Steven J. (2005) Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. Morrow: New York.
Randall, Vernellia. "Socioeconomic Status and Health." Institute on Race, Healthcare and the Law. July 2001. http://academic.udayton.edu/health/08civilrights/01-02-06Socioeconomic.htm
No Child Left Behind examines SES Social Class Definition
Oprah's Show on Social Class April 2006
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Categories: EPSY400 ClassroomLearning