education Flashcards
(32 cards)
How do Marxists critique Durkheim’s view of social solidarity in education?
Marxists argue that these practices indoctrinate students into passive acceptance of rules and perpetuate false consciousness.
What is the role of education in Davis and Moore’s role allocation theory?
Education identifies the most talented individuals for society’s most important roles through awards, exams, and certificates.
What was the aim of the 1965 Comprehensive Education Act?
To abolish selection at age 11 and educate all children in the same secondary schools regardless of ability or background.
What are common subject choices by gender at A-level and university?
Boys favor science and technical subjects; girls prefer arts, humanities, and social sciences, leading to gendered career paths.
What are criticisms of the feminization thesis?
Little evidence links teachers’ gender to male outcomes, and some argue female teachers provide positive role models for girls.
How does intersectionality influence educational inequalities?
Class, gender, and ethnicity overlap, with deprived minority groups often facing compounded disadvantages in education.
What is the role of education in Talcott Parsons’ bridge theory?
Education acts as a bridge between family and wider society, teaching universalistic standards to prepare students for the workplace.
What are the main strengths of the comprehensive system?
It recognizes different developmental rates among children and avoids early labeling based on ability.
What is cultural deprivation theory?
It claims working-class families fail to socialize children adequately, leading to underachievement in school.
What are city academies and their intended purpose?
Independent schools with extra funding aimed at improving standards in deprived, inner-city communities.
What is cultural capital according to Bourdieu?
Knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the dominant middle-class culture that help individuals succeed in education.
How does ethnicity relate to educational achievement and deprivation?
Some ethnic minorities outperform expectations, but many face material deprivation and institutional racism impacting achievement.
What does Durkheim identify as the main function of education in maintaining social solidarity?
Durkheim believes education socializes individuals by teaching shared norms and values to maintain social solidarity.
What skills does school teach according to functionalists, and what is a criticism of this?
School teaches skills needed for specific occupations; however, further training or degrees are often required beyond GCSEs.
How do middle-class families possess more cultural capital?
They help with homework, relate to teachers, conduct research, and expose children to high culture.
What is institutional racism in education?
Systemic policies and practices that perpetuate racial inequalities, such as ethnocentric curricula and segregation.
What is meritocracy according to functionalists, and what are its critiques?
Meritocracy is a system where social advancement is based on talent and effort, but critiques argue it is a myth due to social inequalities.
How does Bernstein differentiate between restricted and elaborated codes?
Restricted code is used by working-class families, while elaborated code is used by middle/upper classes and benefits academic success.
How do Marxists view the role of education as an ideological state apparatus?
Marxists see education as a tool that reproduces and justifies social inequalities, serving the interests of the bourgeoisie.
Why do females tend to outperform males in education?
Schools are feminized, coursework favors girls, and girls face more encouragement and pressure to succeed academically.
What are the main weaknesses of the Marxist approach to education?
It is overly critical, overlooks individual agency, and is class-centered, potentially ignoring gender and ethnicity.
What did the 1944 Education Act establish regarding secondary education?
It introduced compulsory state education up to age 14 and created a tripartite system with IQ testing at age 11
What is the significance of the PISA league tables for UK education policy?
They rank countries in reading, writing, and math, influencing government policies to improve international standing.
What is the ‘feminization’ argument in education?
It suggests that the predominance of female teachers and the feminized environment disadvantages boys.
