THE EXPERIENCE OF BELONGING FROM A SOCIOECONOMIC LENS
little else to recognize my non-tuition needs , nor was there any thought to how I might be able to navigate the extreme affluence and privilege of that environment . This is also the experience of many low-income students in independent schools .
In independent schools , one topic that is addressed even less often than race is socioeconomic class . I suspect the reasons for this are several . First , I believe socioeconomic class is generally taken for granted by the dominant majority which tends to be oblivious to the challenges of the working class , and school policies and practices often reflect this positionality . Second , as I mentioned , socioeconomic class is often conflated with race , and it ’ s possible that people and institutions believe they are talking about one and the same thing when they talk about race . Third , it ’ s
“... it ’ s possible that the feelings of shame associated with low socioeconomic status make talking about class especially uncomfortable for everyone . However , not talking about socioeconomic differences reinforces the stigma and perpetuates feelings of shame .” possible that the feelings of shame associated with low socioeconomic status make talking about class especially uncomfortable for everyone . However , not talking about socioeconomic differences reinforces the stigma and perpetuates feelings of shame .
How does an institution achieve inclusion and belonging that includes socioeconomic diversity ?
A sense of belonging cannot be cultivated in a school environment where low-income students feel unseen because affluence is taken for granted . Therefore , it ’ s imperative that independent schools take steps to achieve greater equity and inclusion by examining policies and practices , and making sure that every student has access to the full educational program . Beyond tuition , there is a financial cost to attending independent schools that can impede participation and access to programs and experiences . Some of these programs and experiences contribute greatly to the social , emotional , physical , and intellectual development of students , and are crucial to developing a feeling of belonging . Imagine for example that once you are accepted to a school , your family cannot afford a laptop computer or scientific calculator . That you want to play football but the cost of equipment is not within your budget . That there are fees for student activities that prohibit you from attending social events at school . That you want to travel abroad but there are additional costs associated with the program of which you were not aware . These are only a few of the non-tuition costs associated with attending independent schools .
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CSEE Connections Summer 2023 Page 11