Background: Young children's mathematics abilities may be divided between symbolic and non-symbolic skills. Lower performance of SES disadvantaged versus advantaged children has already been established in symbolic math. Aim: This study aimed to verify the effect of children's SES category on non-symbolic mathematical (numerical) performance.…

One of the specificities of French higher education is that there is no single higher education system but two compartmentalised and hierarchical higher education systems comprising (1) universities and (2) "grande école" higher education institutions. Competing for a place in the latter requires that students have succeeded in…

Recent research has documented the academic disadvantage of low social class students, whose performance is impaired by competitive educational practices. Across 2 experiments, we examined whether the pursuit of performance-approach goals (aiming to outperform others) favors the emergence of this achievement gap. We first manipulated low versus…

The internationalisation of educational trajectories has emerged as a new form of cultural capital in education systems. Research suggests that the 'international capital' offered by language enrichment programs has become appropriated primarily by middle- and upper-class families investing in new forms of educational distinction. However, little…

This article focuses on different ways in which socially disadvantaged parents engage with their children's educational experiences, and provides evidence of the role they play in opening or narrowing their children's access to education. Disadvantaged parents are usually associated with weak or difficult educational trajectories for their…

Examines operation of demand models in mass education as opposed to elite secondary school systems in France between 1881 and 1975. Looks at role of supply in school expansion and effect of state policies on relative importance of different types of demand. Finds economic demand and state supply exert differing levels of influence on elite system…

Examines enrollment trends in Germany and France around 1900 to determine whether democratic values and citizenship education were significant factors in increased enrollment in secondary schools. Maintains that the curriculum offered by elite secondary schools echoed the idealized attributes of the former governing elites. (CFR)

Examines three themes about the relationship among class origin, education, and class destination in 10 industrial nations. Finds that the patterns of association between class origin and education and between education and class destination are similar across the nations. Presents implications for the study of comparative macrosociology. (CFR)