marxism & the Education System Flashcards
What does marxism say about the education system?
It legitimises inequality through ideology.
What are the three functions according to Marxism?
- Prepares children for the world of work through the transfer of skills and values employers need.
- Passes on the ruling class ideology that supports capitalism.
- Legitimises inequality.
Bowles & Gintis(1976)
corrospondence between the pupils experience at school and adult work.Also prepares pupils for the world of work.
According to Bowles and Gintis how does the education system prepare pupils for the world of work?
- Taught to accept the hierarchy.
- Rewards subservience.
- Motivated with Grades/Money to do boring work.
- School/work day split up into sections.
Althusser
Ideological state apparatus/tool for capitalism to install the idea of society being fair into students(legitimising inequality).
What does Althusser claim that the education system produces in reference to the work force?
A docile and obedient workforce which won’t challenge authority.
What is meritocracy?
The idea that society is governed by people selected according to merit.
What do Marxists believe in relation to meritocracy?
meritocracy is a myth to blame working class students for poor results when in reality they are just a product of their class.
Willis(1977)
Beleives that rather than creating a obedient and docile work force that the education system can form an Anti school subculture amongst many pupils.
Bourdieu
Believes that cultural capital explains how middle class students generally go on to fill the top jobs in society.
Criticsms of Marxist views.
- Exaggerates the obedience of the working class by assuming they are passive victims.
- Most people are aware of the inequalities in the education however they don’t think that the inequality is legitimate.
