Appendix D
Educational Implications of Socioeconomic Status Matrix
Directions: Based on your personal experiences and on the readings for this course, answer the questions in the green section of the matrix as they apply to each of the listed socioeconomic classes. Fill in your answers and post your final draft as directed by the course syllabus.
350- to 500-word Summary:
The economic condition of persons and groups can be measured with a criterion called socioeconomic status (SES). It serves as a composite of the economic status of a family or unrelated individuals on the basis of occupation, educational attainment, and income. Many educators place their students at specific SES levels on the basis of similar observations about their families, based on the way students dress, the language they use, and their eligibility for free or reduced lunch. Many social reformers, educators, and parents view education as a powerful device for achieving social change and the reduction of poverty. The United States can be divided into classes based on income and occupation. The following classes are of the unemployed and homeless, working class, middle class, upper middle class, and upper class. Educators must consciously review their expectations for students and their behavior toward students from different levels of SES to ensure that they are not discriminating. Instructional methods and teaching strategies may vary greatly, depending on the environment in which students live. It is essential that all students be provided with a quality education.
The few U.S. students who live in high-income communities within generous states attend public schools funded at $15,000 or more per student per year, whereas other students in poor communities within stingy states are supported by $3,000 or less per year in funding for their schools (Gollnick & Chinn, 2006). I think that all public schools should have the same funding, no