ASCRIPTION AND EDUCATION

QUESTION

Describe very clearly how the concept of ascription has worked against certain individuals in achieving academic excellence.

Introduction

In all of the many social groups that we as individuals belong to, we have a status and a role to fulfill.  Status is our relative social position within a group, while a role is the part our society expects us to play in a given status.  For example, a man may have the status of father in his family.  Because of this status, he is expected to fulfill a role for his children that in most societies require him to nurture, educate, guide, and protect them.  Of course, mothers usually have complementary roles

However, the concept of Ascription is the social status a person is given from birth or assumes involuntarily later in life. For example, a person born into a wealthy family has a high ascribed status. In contrast, an achieved status is a social position a person takes on voluntarily that reflects personal ability and merit.

 Also when a person's position in society is fixed (or ascribed to him or her by others) on the basis of family background or genetic inheritance, Racial, ethnic, and religious differences, as well as gender; often serve as the basis for ascribed status. Other people that are born into ascribed status are people born into royalty. Since the child came into the world with their care givers having royal lineage, the child has inherited those royal blood lines as well this means that status can be either Ascribed or Achieved.

Ascribed statuses are the result of being born into a particular family or being born male or female.  Being a prince by birth or being the first of four children in a family are ascribed statuses.  We do not make a decision to choose them--they are not voluntary statuses.  We do not pick the family we are born into nor do we usually select our own gender thus, Ascribed Status means an inherited status that symbolizes ownership of wealth and vast land. The royal family fall into this category While,

Achieved statuses are ones that are acquired by doing something.  For instance, someone becomes a criminal by committing a crime.  A soldier earns the status of a good warrior by achievements in battle and by being brave.  A woman becomes a mother by having a baby.  She also can acquire the status of a ‘widow’ by the death of her husband thus; Achieved Status means the educators and entrepreneurs who have made their money from business and hard work. Firstly they started small and slowly expanded and made their wealth in this way.

ASCRIPTION AND EDUCATION

The implication of ascription in any society is the fact that social inequality exits in every aspect of the society in terms of prestige, power, educational opportunities and wealth. Members of the society who belong to the same social class share similar lifestyle, which distinguishes them from other members of the society from other strata.

Ascription no dough has resulted to worked against certain individuals in achieving academic excellence due to the following reasons:

UNEQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY: Due to the existence of ascribed status in every society, there is no equilibrium in the provision of schools at all level as well as in the enrolment opportunity into the available schools. Since majority of students are admitted into schools not base on merit but on some form of ascription of family affiliation, tribe, gender or religion. This means that no matter what some people will be deprive of academic opportunity.

LACK OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES: Ascription has made it possible for some people (students) to have proper assess to educational materials and resources such as Text-books, Internet, extra-lessons, seminars and workshops. While others are limited in these areas as a result they are disadvantaged in the pursued of academic excellence which is mainly caused by ascription.

SCHOOL’S RESTRICTION: Ascription has restricted certain schools for people of a particular class and status due to the high rate of school fees so that those who could not pay are excluded. These schools are usually well equipped with educational resource, both man and material to ensure educational excellence, and this certainly worked against certain individuals who are from the low class. Such schools are mostly private.

Less preparedness of children at school age due to their family poor social class made it less likely for them to attain educational excellence because by the time they start pursuing their educational goals they most have grown into adults which will affect their educational performance.

Finally, primary schools which is the most important level of educational attainment as the foundation needs to be well organized and equipped but the reverse is the case as most primary schools today were the schools are in a terrible state without windows, doors or desk. These schools are attained by students from poor home and social class.

CONCLUSION

Due to ascription it is not possible for any society to maintain and egalitarian nature were all its members will be equal and enjoy similar privileges in various areas of society life.

Considering the facts above it is paramount to say that the concept of ascription has worked against certain individuals in achieving academic excellence. As people will not be expose to equal educational opportunity which will lead to different academic performance.

REFERENCES

Michael Marmot (2004), The Status Syndrome: How Social Standing Affects Our Health and Longevity, Times Books

O'Neil, Dennis, (2006). Status and Role. Corel Corporation. http://anthro.palomar.edu/status/stat_2.htm.

Robert J. Sampson; Jeffery . Morennoff and Thomas Gannon-Rowley, Assessing Neighborhood Effects: Social Process and New Directions in Research, The annual Review of Sociology, 2002.

Stark, Rodney. 2007 Sociology Tenth Edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education

Stark, Rodney, (2007). Sociology, Tenth Edition Quebecor World/Versailles. ISBN: 0-495-09344-0