This work is a visualization of concepts rooted in sociological theory, aiming to deconstruct theories and issues in our culture in order to provide an insightful critique.

The focus is on a particular area of interest, the way in which children are socialized through education and the method of standardizing children into uniformity through examinations. Standard Attainment Targets or SATs are tests which children must take during their Key Stages at the age of seven and eleven. These exams predict what grades children will be achieving over the following years, but in the long run, it helps to reveal the contribution that children will make to society as future adults.

This testing and standardizing can have a place in ensuring the quality of education. It can also encourage students to perform at their best. However, for those children who are not reaching the requirements, it can be much less beneficial. Such standardizing of grades in school does not take into account the differences in children’s backgrounds, their personal development and their experiences at school. This can have a very negative effect on certain children who do not attain the predicted grades.

This work reflects these ideas in a conceptual way, aiming to intervene and critique society. The cress is used to represent the way in which children are so easily influenced at such a vulnerable age, cress being a reminder of the lessons taught in school about photosynthesis conditioning the cress, much like children are conditioned in school. Growing cress into money illustrates the way in which our culture is increasingly geared towards materialism and consumerism.

This encompasses ideas about the role of education in shaping who children become and their identities.