Economic Barriers to Education: A Social Scientist's Perspective

There are two influential social scientists that every educator should familiarize themselves with: Edwin Hutchins and Pierre Bourdieu. This article delves into their unique contributions and insights, revealing the intricate relationship between economic barriers and education.

Edwin Hutchins and the Community's Intelligence

Veteran researcher Dr. Edwin Hutchins conducted extensive fieldwork with the Trobriand Islanders, correcting many misconceptions about their reasoning capabilities. Contrary to previous evaluations, based on standardized testing, Hutchins found that the Islanders were quite intelligent and capable.

Hutchins identified that the standardized tests were irrelevant to the community's values and practices. By examining the community's values, he unveiled a people whose reasoning was rooted in practical and communal contexts, rather than abstract, standardized tests.

Pierre Bourdieu and the Concept of Habitus

While Bourdieu started his career in philosophy, he later transitioned to sociology, serving in the French Army during the Algerian War. His contributions to the field were groundbreaking, focusing on the concept of habitus and the idea of legitimate symbolic violence.

Bourdieu's research highlighted that learning is not a neutral, individualistic process. Instead, it is communal, public, and shared, with formal schooling serving as a vehicle for power, reflecting and imposing values of those in power.

The concept of habitus, coined by Bourdieu, refers to how individuals internalize and act upon the values they perceive to be valid, often unconsciously. This internalization shapes their aspirations and career choices, leading to phenomena such as bright students choosing less prestigious paths.

Economic Barriers and Social Constructs in Education

While formal education aims to serve and preserve the interests of those with power, it often fails to address the economic barriers that prevent many from accessing quality education. Economic factors such as financial constraints, geographic location, and socio-economic status can significantly impact educational opportunities.

For instance, high tuition rates and flawed funding models contribute to educational inequity. Additionally, the focus on merit and elitism over the potential of every child can exacerbate these barriers.

The Habitus in Play: Internalized Values and Expectations

The concept of habitus explains why some students, despite being bright, may not pursue higher education or professional careers. Fitting into predefined roles, whether consciously or unconsciously, can lead to the internalization of certain values and expectations.

These values may not align with the realities of a student's own talents, abilities, interests, or disposition. Testing instruments often categorize students and schools, leading to feelings of inadequacy and a lack of support for improvement.

The Impact of Legitimate Symbolic Violence

Legitimate symbolic violence, as proposed by Bourdieu, refers to the ways in which power is maintained through publicly legitimated social practices. This can manifest in the form of standardized tests, which impose values and expectations on students that may not reflect their true capabilities.

Furthermore, the transition to power often leads to a break with an individual's own society, family, and friends, as they are drawn into paths that do not align with their true interests. This can be reinforced by the habitus, a structure that exacerbates inequality.

Conclusion: Addressing Economic Barriers to Education

Education should be focused on reaching the potential of every child, not just serving the interests of those in power. Addressing economic barriers requires a reevaluation of the values and practices that underpin formal schooling. By challenging the notion of legitimized symbolic violence and working to create more inclusive and supportive educational environments, we can provide all students with the opportunity to thrive.

Key Takeaways Economic barriers significantly impact access to quality education. The concept of habitus explains how internalized values shape personal aspirations and career choices. Legitimate symbolic violence perpetuates inequity through standardized testing and other institutional practices.