Marxist View on Education Flashcards
What two functions does education perform for the capitalist society
- It reproduces the social-class inequalities found in capitalist societies by training pupils from working-class backgrounds to do working-class jobs, which providing elite education for the children of the wealthy, so preparing them to take up the most powerful jobs in society
- Education serves to justify or legitimate class inequalities by persuading those who generally ‘lose’ the meritocratic race - the children of the working class - that their outcomes reflect their ability and are therefore deserved.
What functionalist argument does Louis Althusser take issue with
That the main function of education is the transmission of common shared values.
What does Louis Althusser say about education
He argues that education functions to persuade young people to accept their place in the capitalist system. He observed that capitalist societies are very unequal and challenges to it will cause conflict and stability.
What does Althusser refer to the education system as
‘Ideological state apparatus’
How does the ‘ideological state apparatus’ transmit ruling-class ideas in what two ways
- It teaches young people that capitalism is normal and natural despite its inherent inequalities
- Schools legitimise and justify inequality through the use of examinations and qualifications. As a result, people are seen to fail exams because of their own personal shortcomings.
Define the hidden curriculum
The messages and ideas that schools do not directly teach, but children learn, and which are part and parcel of the normal routines and procedures of the way school is organised.
What does Althusser say about the hidden curriculum?
He argues that the hidden curriculum stresses the need to compete with others, to pursue individualistic goals and most importantly to accept without question that education is meritocratic. Therefore educational success and failure should be accepted as ‘fair’ and ‘deserved’ because they are a result of ones talent and ability.
What do Bowles and Gintis (1976) say and what did they do?
They argue that education is controlled by the bourgeoisie and serves their interests. This lead them to conduct a study on High school children in the USA. They concluded that ‘schooling stands in the shadow of work’ - suggesting that there is a link between school and work which is being deliberately made by the capitalist class.
This is preparing, mostly working-class children, for the world of work
In what four ways did Bowles and Ginitis say that school prepared children for working life?
- Hidden curriculum socialises children into work discipline. This encourages obedience with awards, allowing no trouble in the future with employers.
- Hidden curriculum encourages children to be motivated by extrinsic rewards such as good grades and qualifications. Then once in the workplace the extrinsic reward becomes wages.
- Hidden curriculum encourages pupils to accept hierarchal controls and authority, so prepares them for taking roles from employers.
- Idea of meritocracy put forward by functionalist sociologists is a myth.
What do Neo-marxists talk about?
They claim that the existence of anti-school subcultures and truancy suggest that the hidden curriculum is often resisted by working-class pupils and that they do not passively accept everything they are taught.
What does Neo-marxist Willis say about anti-school subcultures?
He conducted a study and found that the 12 working-class pupils he studied made up a counter-school culture because they opposed all values of school. They saw no value in academic work or qualifications and bullied those in top sets.
He said that the boys looked forward to leaving school and working in the local car factory. He claimed that the group of boys ‘the lads’ saw through the ideology of capitalism. This all contributes and reinforces class inequality.
How can Willis be criticised on his study?
His sample was extremely small.
Not very representative of all working-class boys, some may aspire to get out of their class and move upwards.
Why have Marxists been criticised?
For emphasising class inequalities in education and paying very little or no attention to inequalities experienced by girls or ethnic minorities.
What is a criticism of the importance of the Hidden curriculum?
Some sociologists point out that the modern workplace requires flexible teamwork rather than blind obedience and that subjects that are critical of capitalism like politics are popular in UK schools.
