Marxist Theory

Question 1

marxist believe

Answer 1

• don’t believe that all learning in education is a result of formal curriculum
• education responsible for transmitting values of bourgeoisie in support of capitalism
• hidden curriculum

Question 2

2 main functions of education

Answer 2

1) education responsible for transmission of dominant ideology
2) education corresponds clearly to needs of workforce

Question 3

sociologist: Althusser

Answer 3

education is ideological state apparatus.
encourages values and behaviours within proletariat that benefit capitalism eg obedience and competitiveness

Question 4

sociologist: Bowles and Gintis

Answer 4

• hidden curriculum shapes future workforce in 4 ways
• correspondence principle
• meritocracy a myth

Question 5

4 ways hidden curriculum shapes future workforce

Answer 5

1- produces uncritical, passive, docile workforce
2 - encourages acceptance of hierarchy
3- learn to be motivated by external factors
4 - fragmentation of school subjects

Question 6

correspondence principle

Answer 6

education mirrors workforce

Question 7

1- acceptance of hierarchy

Answer 7

• teachers give orders and students obey or will be told off for defying orders
• this prepares them for relationships within workforce where have to accept authority of supervisors

Question 8

2- motivation by external rewards

Answer 8

• students have little control over schoolwork so get satisfaction from external rewards of qualifications
• workers must be motivated by external rewards of wage packet

Question 9

3- fragmentation

Answer 9

• students move from one subject to another
• workers denied knowledge of overall production process so difficult for workforce to unite against authority, easier to control workforce

Question 10

4 - uncritical, passive, docile workers

Answer 10

• students blindly accept authority as good behaviour is rewarded
• docile workers have better jobs

Question 11

meritocracy a myth

Answer 11

education creates myth that those at top deserve their power and privilege, those at bottom blame themselves.

Question 12

criticisms of Bowles and Gintis

Answer 12

• influence of formal curriculum- Sociology A level
• didn’t carry out detailed research into life within schools, assumed hidden curriculum influencing pupils
• post Fordism- economy has changed, type of workforce discussed is no longer needed

Question 13

Sociologist: Illich

Answer 13

Deschooling
- suggests should have deschooled, self-directed education supported by educational webs
- universal education through schooling not feasible
- have peer- matching
- good education system have 3 purposes

Question 14

3 purposes of education system according to Illich

Answer 14

1- learn at any age
2- empower those who want to teach
3- be voice who want to share

Question 15

Sociologist: Friere

Answer 15

• against education system that treats people as objects rather than subjects
• education should focus on cultural exploration
• wanted education to liberate people from state of poverty
• students should ask ‘why’ in school
• students should be taught how to learn and about their cultures in school

Question 16

Sociologist: Willis

Answer 16

’ the lads’
- Working-class students develop counter-school culture as reject school’s meritocracy ideology of working class achieving middle-class jobs through hard work
- acts of rebellion guarantee they will end in unskilled jobs as gain status from friends

Question 17

how is Willis a marxist

Answer 17

believes education is for middle-class and serves capitalism so because lads are working-class they think education is not for them and is irrelevant

Question 18

what is ‘shop’ floor culture

Answer 18

develop humor instead of intelligence which is used in factory workforce