Untenable Choices: Families and Education

Untenable Choices: Families and Education (SOC 333) Keywords: education, pedagogy, family, conflict theory, socioeconomic status, parental involvement, second shift, hurried childhood, adultified childhood, moral hierarchy Our presentation discusses how family structure and parental involvement affect the education of students in the classroom. We apply conflict theory to educational systems to examine the intersections of the U.S. education system, school curriculum, family structures, and social class. We also address how the U.S. education system and its curriculum was designed for upper and middle class students and families, causing other family structures and social classes to fall short. We analyze the group activity we designed for the class, our reflections on leading discussion questions in regards to their family type and the environment of their upbringing, and also the literature on the effects of home environment on the educational success of each student. Last, we review whether our lecture, game play, open discussion, and assigned readings, helped students to understand the concepts and identify possible solutions for making the education system more inclusive to diverse family structures