Difference and managing differences in the educational environment of families. A sketch of pedagogical problems

Abstract

The contribution starts off from criticizising the prevailing tendency in current empirical educational research and policy-related disciplinary discussions that regards the family mainly as a source of social selection. Without disputing the fact that the genesis of a specific familiar ``habitus'' (Bourdieu) is closely connected to successful educational careers and the respective social position later on, the author points to the danger of such a limitation to the mere integration into the educational system and the acquisition of social positions. By reverting to Karl Mannheim's concept of generation and Dieter Claessens' culture-anthropologically oriented theory on families, an extended concept of family education is presented that focuses on the selfdynamic processes and structuring of differences within the family environment. It becomes evident that, in addition to the process of social selection, this dimension of family culture is an important potential of education and socialization that still requires more extensive future research in this area.