Final answer:
Upper-middle-class students are comforted by a societal view that prioritizes hard work, education, and good manners, ensuring the continuation of their privileged status through high-quality education and preparation for white-collar employment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Upper-middle-class students are comforted by a view of society that emphasizes the values of hard work, education, and good manners. This view supports their existing lifestyle, which often includes high-quality education, comfortable housing, and the ability to afford leisure activities like skiing or boating. The focus on education and hard work is a means of maintaining or improving their class status, gearing them towards white-collar employment, and cultivating the skills and values needed for continued social mobility.
For these students, the education system and family life are oriented towards sustaining their privilege. College curricula evolve to match the needs of the modern work world, with an emphasis on professional schools and business classes deemed practical for financial success. This ensures that upper-middle-class children are set up to continue their families' socioeconomic status into the next generation.