The Influence of the Socioeconomic Status on Bullying at School: Private Schools vs. State Schools (Term Paper Sample)

The influence of the socioeconomic status on bullying at school. Private schools vs. State schools
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The influence of the socioeconomic status on bullying at school. Private schools vs. State schools
Abstract
The paper addresses the influence of socioeconomic status on bullying at schools. The research will compare antisocial behavior in both private and public schools. In trying to understand the topic broadly, the paper will draw upon research that has been done previously on the subject by various scholars. Studies have indicated that there is a sharp contrast in antisocial behavior among children who attend the state schools and those attending private schools. Further, the variation has been attributed to a difference in the socioeconomic status of the two groups of children. However, much of the information may be dwelling on observation and little on empirical research. The aim of the paper is to conduct studies on the topic as a way of helping gain much insight into the issue of antisocial behavior in private and state owned schools. The paper will look at socioeconomic status as a factor to play in the determination of one having antisocial behavior but all reference made to the state and private schools.
The influence of the socioeconomic status on bullying at school. Private schools vs. State schools
Introduction
Antisocial behavior can be defined as disruptive acts that are characterized by overt and covert hostility and aggression toward others. The behavior is depicted as a persistent violation of social rules, reckless disregard of others, defying authority and lack of respect for rights of the others. Antisocial behavior is evident and can be detected in children at a tender age. If left unattended to, the behavioral patterns could persist and escalate as time goes on eventually becoming a chronic behavioral problem. The aggressive actions by those practicing the same may be directed towards the siblings, parents, peers and teachers. Fu, Land and Lamb (2013) illustrate the manifestation of the behavior, particularly by the children, can be in the form of verbal abuse against others, bullying or hitting others. The paper evaluates the effect of socioeconomic status as a determinant factor when it comes to antisocial behavior about children attending state or private schools. Socioeconomic status can be defined as one’s social standing in the society regarding class or stratification. Contrary to antisocial behavior, there is prosocial behavior that is acceptable and adheres to the norms of the society. This paper is of interest as it helps one understand the effect of socioeconomic status on one’s social behavior while bringing in the aspect of private and state-owned schools. An evaluation of the topic is of significance since it may serve the purpose of finding a solution towards the issue considering the adverse effects it has on those affected.
Illustration of Socioeconomic status
It is a sociological and economic factor combined and measures an individual’s work experience, economic and social position as compared to the others. It can further be related to a family’s standing economically about the others. Socioeconomic status is categorized into three primary stages, high, middle and low socioeconomic status. The three phases help in the determination of an individual’s or family’s social standing. For purposes of this research, the socioeconomic situation of children would be compared but about their particular family status. Those who are well-off can be described to be in a high socioeconomic status. Further, bringing in the aspect of state and private owned schools, one can relate the two to a particular socioeconomic status. For example, children coming from families that are in a high stage of socioeconomic status can be said to attend the private schools while those coming from a family with a low socioeconomic status attend the private schools. As for children coming from a family in the middle socioeconomic status, they could join either of the two schools depending on the preference of the parents. Private schools have been associated with high socioeconomic status because of the expensive nature with which the schools are. State schools, on the other hand, are perceived to be less costly, and children coming from low socioeconomic families end up in attending such schools. In placing a child to any of the three socioeconomic standings, there is always an assessment of the level they are standing regarding particular variables. Various socioeconomic factors are affecting the categorization of the children into a specific socioeconomic class.
How socioeconomic status is measured
Socioeconomic status can be measured through different parameters. The first is education. Education could be measured by the use of continuous variables where a particular family can be assessed by the highest level of education attained by any of the family members. High levels of education are associated with the highest socioeconomic status. In relating the two concepts to children attending either the private or state owned schools, those coming from families with people having attained high education status are likely to join the private schools. Contrary to the same, children attending state-owned schools can be said to come from families that may not be having a high educational status.
The criterion with which socioeconomic status can be measured is income. Income can be measured regarding how much the family is earning while at the same time assessing the wealth that they could be having. Relating the same to children attending either private or state-owned schools, those who are from wealthy schools can be described to be belonging to a family with high socioeconomic standards. It is because private schools are deemed to be more expensive and only families that have a high income can afford. Contrary to the same, children attending the state-owned schools can be associated with a family background that is regarding socioeconomic status. It is because state-owned schools are perceived to be cheap and affordable to those who may not be in a position to afford the expensive private schools. A particular child would attend a given school based on the family’s socioeconomic standing.
Finally, occupation held by parents of children attending school can be used as a determinant factor in the categorization of socioeconomic status. The benefits that they get from the particular employment has an influence on the socioeconomic status of the children’s parents. Children attending private schools can be perceived to be coming from families that are high in socioeconomic status. Alternatively, those attending state-owned schools can be coming from homes where the parents have an occupation with little benefits.
The contribution of socioeconomic research to evaluate anti-social behavior
Socioeconomic status as a vital tool when it comes to carrying out research in determining anti-social behavior. Lantos and Halpern (2015) postulate that socioeconomic status has been described to play a crucial role when dictating the social behavior of children. Research has indicated that high socioeconomic status does correlate with antisocial behavior. However, much of the research was done in the field does depict inconsistencies when relating the concept of socioeconomic status and antisocial behavior. Much of the research does illustrate mixed findings when comparing the two. In understanding the concept better, it could be better to conduct much research into the subject area as a way of helping get consistent results. However, existing research has pointed out a close relationship when it comes to high socioeconomic standing with antisocial behavior. Notably, it has been determined that there are factors to be attributed to the change in social behavior. For example, Garandeau, Lee and Salmivalli, C. (2014) indicate that children perceived to have come from families with a high socioeconomic standing tend to have antisocial behavior because of poor parenting. Parents of such children are seen to be busy reducing the time with which they have to interact with the children. Factors such as nature of occupation may hinder some of the parents from devoting much of their time to parenting resulting in a high likelihood of such children developing antisocial behavior.
Socioeconomic status and bullying in private and state owned schools
Children who are coming from families with a low socioeconomic status are at risk of getting bullied compared to those from high socioeconomic status. Findings of a study published in the American Journal of Public Health have indicated that children coming from low-income families are more likely to be bullied compared to those from the affluent families. The studies were conducted for a total of one hundred and sixty thousand students from over six thousand schools in North America and Europe. Further, findings did depict that schools that did have a variation in the economic status were likely to experience much bullying. Studied conducted by Tippet and Woke (2014) does show a close link between socioeconomic status and the likelihood of a particular child to suffer from bullying. In their studies, the researchers were evaluating the schools or children that were likely to suffer from bullying. At a greater length, they were assessing the adverse effects of such antisocial behavior directed towards the children at their health and life. The research conducted by the studies did conclude that schools that were deprived socioeconomically should be a target for interventions when it comes to addressing the concept of socioeconomic behavior. The purpose of directing such interventions to the schools was a reflection of the fact t...