Class: Inside Of School Factors, Hidden Curriculum Passing On Ruling Class Ideology (marxist)

Question 1

Althusser

Answer 1

• Argues that education’s primary role is to persuade young people to accept their place in the capitalist system and suggest that the ruling class maintains control not through force, but through ideological control using institutions called ideological state apparatuses
• Argues that education transmits capitalist ideology in two ways: it teaches young people that capitalism is normal and natural despite its inequalities and it selects and grades pupils for unequal positions in society making inequality appear fair
• Suggest that the education system is manipulated to train students to be unquestioning, subordinate, hard-working and conformist ensuring they are easy to manipulate in the workplace

Question 2

Bowles & gintis

Answer 2

• argue that education main role is social reproduction ensuring inequalities in capitalist society are replicated in each generation
• Claim schools achieve this by socialising workers to accept their future role as obedient workers in a capitalist economy
• Key aspects of arguments explaining the under achievement of working class pupils include the correspondence principle, myth of meritocracy and ideal student
• theory suggests that the education system isn’t a fair playing field but rather a tool that perpetuates existing social class inequalities
• working class pupils are disadvantaged not because of lack of ability, but because the system is designed to prepare them for the expected role in the workforce