AIBU or is this official stance creating a social divide?

[EerieSilence]

This is the Government Social Mobility chief speaking. How can you support social mobility if you tell the parents that their children don't get enough education at school (paid for and supported by the very state she's employed by) and should do it themselves?
How are the working classes supposed to do that? From what?
Isn't this creating more of a social divide where the wealthy already can afford more education and support of extra-curricular interests for their children?
Are people in Britain really OK with this?

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10367349/Parents-children-lessons-DAY-school-says-Superhead-Katharine-Birbalsingh.html

We've always known what she is saying. I don't see the issue of it being repeated. We know many schools in deprived areas struggle to attract good teachers. We know that they are underfunded, the standards are low etc. We know that different LA's have different thresholds for intervention and that's there's a shortage of ed psycs etc. I first found out how bad things were when my DD in the early 90's had dyslexia. To give an example, In Kent intervention would happen when a pupil was 18 months behind, in Liverpool a pupil had to be three years behind. Things hadn't got better in 2001 when my youngest (LD's) was starting school.

Also WC doesn't mean that you are less intelligent, or couldn't provide education.

I think she's a nutter cut from the same abusive cloth as Tiger Mother Amy Chua and wouldn't listen to a word she says

How are the working classes supposed to do that? From what?

I don't understand what you mean by 'from what'?

Dreadful comments and so disrespectful to schools and teachers. I can't see that they'll achieve much either, except to encourage the tiger parents to keep cracking the whip and pushing their kids towards a breakdown.

@Ponoka7

Also WC doesn't mean that you are less intelligent, or couldn't provide education.

But it might mean that you are working, perhaps shifts, and might not have the time to teach your children. All the while, children who have parents who can afford private tuition will be benefiting from enhanced education.

what does working class have to do with being able able sit and read / spell / whatever with your child.

How are the working classes supposed to do that? From what?

There isn't a general working class that can't prioritise and provide extra educational support for their kids. In the past, workers' libraries, grammars and night school helped achieve some social mobility and more recently it's been a clearer part of some immigrant cultures to educate their DC to succeed beyond what was possible for the parents. It's not a matter of money, but a matter of aspirations and priorities. Encouraging, motivating, making time for extra study at libraries or online, which are accessible for all, if you can get past the hurdle of being intimidated or thinking it's not for you and the school should do it.

By saying this, I guess the chief is highlighting the known issue that it's not just down to schools but that parental involvement and support for the DCs education is a vital factor in social mobility. Which doesn't mean paying for tutoring etc, but on a fundamental level, not assuming the school will do it all and that's the DC education sorted. The tone of the OP suggests the very opposite - that it's entirely the state's job - a misconception that needs dispelling if social mobility is to gain any traction. Obviously the state has to do its bit, but parents must too. Sadly there will still be parents who are unable or unwilling, but that's the smaller subset and not the entire working classes by any stretch. The more everyone else can step up, the more state resources can target those in the most need of support.

These grade obsessed nutters are everywhere aren't they?

She’s preying on the widespread British anxiety about offspring not ‘getting ahead’ educationally (which weirdly manages to co-exist with an entrenched suspicion of academic intelligence, multilingualism and ‘performance parenting.’

People should calm the hell down and just read with their children. And if they can’t, it’s not catastrophic. My parents were only semi-literate, and my schools were pretty poor, but I turned out all right.

You can still buy and read books when you're working class. Also visit museums, cultural events - so many are free.

My parents went on and on about grades...was quite damaging.

(worth adding - obviously there are many other factors in social mobility and am no fan of this gov's approach to it, fucking up opportunities in myriad ways. so parental support ain't gonna solve wider societal issues, but just in relation to this specific story, I get the stance)

What about all those working parents of all classes who aren't there after school.

You can still buy and read books when you're working class. Also visit museums, cultural events - so many are free

You can't if you're working every hour you can to keep a roof over your heads.

Most deprived areas don't have museums and cultural events at all, unless you can travel to the nearest city, which means spending money.

What she’s saying is that you shouldn’t ASSUME that your kid is getting the right education at school (true for both private and state school) - so you should also check for yourself and do additional things if you can. I’m from a culture where kids regularly do work after school. It’s got benefits - some people from poor backgrounds had kids who achieved stellar results and much better standard of living. It also has some drawbacks - poor stress and mental health. I personally benefitted from a tiger parent, but not all kids are the same and different kids need different things.

Most of a child’s time is spent out of school. If parents are able to, it is usually beneficial to do what they can to help their kids with education. Saying that is not classist - of course parents shouldn’t be blamed if this is not possible - some parents don’t have the right circumstances (eg shift work, inadequate time, language issues)- but if they can and have a choice, it would usually benefit the child.

You can't if you're working every hour you can to keep a roof over your heads.
But you still would find time for the things you like or find important, like your social media. You just don't like books and your kid doesn't either.

Most deprived areas don't have museums and cultural events at all, unless you can travel to the nearest city, which means spending money.
Ok, I get that. But those in cities have such opportunities, yet ignore them.

Most deprived areas don't have museums and cultural events at all, unless you can travel to the nearest city, which means spending money.

Hmm. I come from one of the most deprived areas and it has a museum and cultural events. Most towns in this country have something going on even if it's run by amateur enthusiasts (often the best people to do it so no hierarchy intended). It's another pervasive myth that you have to be in a big city and go to the top galleries and museums or you're screwed. Again, it's about a shift from that mind-set of £ and big trips to the smaller, more prosaic matters of the local library, reading each night, talking about whatever topic they're studying over tea at night and so on.

With a phone or tablet or PlayStation there's is youtube, or Wikipedia ect, many ways to learn

@WorraLiberty

How are the working classes supposed to do that? From what?

I don't understand what you mean by 'from what'?

This. Do you mean I can't hire a tutor or I'm too thick to provide education myself?

What she is saying is extreme BUT in reality the school can only provide so much, parents need to be supporting their children by listening to them read, helping them learn spellings and supervising homework (not doing it, more providing a quiet space to do it (eg kitchen table) plus where possible encouraging their broader education by visiting museums, historical sites, taking walks in nature etc many are completely free.

The main reason middle class kids do better is this subtle extra curricular support rather than hothousing or coaching. Mine never had tutors but we did have a national trust membership!

@Pinkdelight3

How are the working classes supposed to do that? From what?

There isn't a general working class that can't prioritise and provide extra educational support for their kids. In the past, workers' libraries, grammars and night school helped achieve some social mobility and more recently it's been a clearer part of some immigrant cultures to educate their DC to succeed beyond what was possible for the parents. It's not a matter of money, but a matter of aspirations and priorities. Encouraging, motivating, making time for extra study at libraries or online, which are accessible for all, if you can get past the hurdle of being intimidated or thinking it's not for you and the school should do it.

By saying this, I guess the chief is highlighting the known issue that it's not just down to schools but that parental involvement and support for the DCs education is a vital factor in social mobility. Which doesn't mean paying for tutoring etc, but on a fundamental level, not assuming the school will do it all and that's the DC education sorted. The tone of the OP suggests the very opposite - that it's entirely the state's job - a misconception that needs dispelling if social mobility is to gain any traction. Obviously the state has to do its bit, but parents must too. Sadly there will still be parents who are unable or unwilling, but that's the smaller subset and not the entire working classes by any stretch. The more everyone else can step up, the more state resources can target those in the most need of support.

It is absolutely not all down to aspirations and priorities. Many people have not been sufficiently well educated themselves to support their children's learning. Motivation only goes so far if you have no idea yourself how to do algebra or decline a verb. And if you think that is a small subset, then you are wrong. I agree it's not the 'entire WC', but parents without the resources to assist their children are disproportionately represented amongst lower income families, and putting more onus on them to fill the gaps caused by underfunding will increase the divide.

But you still would find time for the things you like or find important, like your social media. You just don't like books and your kid doesn't either.

Wow, some ignorance here.

I’m a product of tiger parenting and it’s very much cultural, poor immigrant parents with too many dc.

They did school us at home to some extent. We were also dropped off at the library from a very young age. Plus we were expected to work. We taught our dc at home as well. We were perfectly ok sending DS to the local poor results comp as we knew we could make up the shortfall. We were luckier as not hard up like my parents. I also encouraged DS to get a job which he did, DH and I didn’t see eye to eye on that one but it worked out fine. I was working 20 hours a week when studying for my A levels, at least ds just had a paper round once a week.

I ascribed to a lighter version of tiger parenting, no where near as rigid as my parents. it’s paid off well though it caused a few tussles with DH who is white English.

So my Dad who opened the first Chinese restaurant in a small town in 1959 and who endured shocking racism ended up with children who academically all did very well. He died 8 years ago, he was so proud of us all.

Overall I agree with this woman though it doesn’t always work out and I imagine anyone with liberal sensibilities reading that article will be horrified.

@CatsArePeople

You can't if you're working every hour you can to keep a roof over your heads. But you still would find time for the things you like or find important, like your social media. You just don't like books and your kid doesn't either.

Most deprived areas don't have museums and cultural events at all, unless you can travel to the nearest city, which means spending money.
Ok, I get that. But those in cities have such opportunities, yet ignore them.

Who's the "you" @CatsArePeople? Cos that's either incredibly personal and rude to the PP or you're generalising a whole "class" of people you don't know