Brief Analysis on Influence of the dual structure of urban and rural areas on rural students to realize social mobility through education

范榮

【Abstract】This paper analyzes the influence of rural education on social stratification and social mobility for rural students and reveals the hazards and influence of distrusting educational system on the farmers.

【Key words】dual structure of urban and rural areas； rural education； social stratification； social mobility

1. Process of social stratification in education

Education in schools is the primary channel to realize social stratification. The function of education social stratification is exerted by educational system through education， selection and promotion in schools， so winners and losers are arranged in different social positions respectively according to their educational degree， which determines their social status.

At first， the educational selection and promotion screens the students who accept education in schools on the basis of common standards in modern school education. It is realized in direct and indirect manners. The entrance examination in all levels of schools is the most direct manner of selection and promotion in education while process evaluation and diagnostic assessment can be regarded as direct manners of selection and promotion. Consequently， the social stratification determines that the school education has the nature of allocating labor resources. The education of different types and natures is associated with different occupation goals， social and economic status. The formulation of educational system realizes educational stratification and determines the future educational opportunities for different people. Finally， the stratification function of a complete school education is ultimately realized through gaining social positions after accepting education. The educatees will directly engage in their relevant occupations according to their own education degree and expertise， so their social status can be shown in reality at that moment. It is shown here that individuals change their social status through school education.

From the perspective of education social stratification， although it is influenced by family background and individual social capital， etc.， its realization is closely associated with subjective factors such as individual efforts， study motivation and individual capability development， etc.， so it becomes the fairest manner of selection and promotion in form and widely recognized.

2. Factors to influence rural students to realize social mobility

Generally speaking， there are three factors that influence educational results， among which individual effort degree is the decisive internal factor. As external factors， the educational system and family background also have a significant influence on education.

At first， with respect to individual effort degree， the examination result is mainly based on examination score， and it does not constrain gender， ethnic group or family background， etc.. As rural students can achieve social promotion to some extent through examination， it becomes the most favorable channel to change their destiny. In particular， along with the disappearance of other channels， attendance to school has become a path on which rural students place the highest expectation and the greatest channel which shows their individual effort degree. Their excellent study performance which results from their individual subjective efforts is a factor which can be managed by themselves， which cannot only offset their disadvantage due to family background and social hierarchy， etc.， but also helps them achieve good social status with excellent study performance.

Secondly， with respect to the educational system， before the release of the reform and opening up policy， rural students gained a lot of education opportunities due to the national education policies and system. After the reform and opening up， the implementation of the system of key secondary schools in the basic education puts rural students at a disadvantage in the education selection and promotion， and the economic factor also constrains rural students from receiving education. Due to the influence of reforming higher education enrollment and allocation system， some rural students with virtues and talents feel bewildered and depressed， gradually diminish their interest in study and lose their enthusiasm to study.

In addition， with respect to family background， in economic and social resources， rural students stay at a disadvantage of family background， and they face the threat that they cannot pay the tuition all the time. As regards cultural resources， their parents low cultural degree determines that they do not receive the education in schools before. Meanwhile， few parents lead their children to participate in some cultural activities. Only 10% parents “tell their children some learning methods” with respect to their study. Most parents merely monitor and urge their children to learn. That is to say， most parents do not provide guidance in leaning for their children and impossibly invite home tutors to guide their children.

In general， due to the influence of the dual structure of urban and rural areas， rural students stay at a disadvantage in educational system and family background. Rural students shall mainly depend on their own efforts to realize social mobility through education， and they usually make more efforts than urban students at the same age do to gain excellent study performance， obtain good social status and realize promotion of social status in the end.