According to Basil Bernstein, what is the difference between the communication codes of working- and middle-class children? Give an example to support your answer. How do differences in codes affect children's performance in school?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Basil Bernstein (1924-2000) drew on functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives to develop his code. Codes are systems used to understand meaning and to communicate. Bernstein saw differences between the communication codes of working-class and middle-class children that reflected class and power relationships in the economy, the family, and schools.
He described working-class members' language codes as restricted to their own social class background and understood only by those with similar backgrounds. On the other hand, middle-class language codes were elaborated and understood by those with similar or different backgrounds. Working-class codes are not deficient, Bernstein argued, but rather are functionally related to the family's occupation. Likewise, the code of the middle classes represents functional changes in society that require them to communicate with many groups. Because schools rely on the middle-class code for instruction and for organizing interactions between students and teachers, working-class children are disadvantaged.
Examples may vary.
Bernstein's study of the inner workings of the educational system showed how the schools reproduce social class advantages in schooling and society. Based on his work, sociologists argue that policies to reduce educational inequalities need to provide low-income students access to the dominant communication and schooling codes.