Marxist Perspective on Education

Question 1

who created the Marxism theory

Answer 1

Karl Marx (1818-83)

Question 2

what did Marx’s work represent

Answer 2

a critique of industrial capitalism

Question 3

what did the industrial revolution lead to

Answer 3

the development of a capitalist society where inequalities became more pronounced and extreme

Question 4

do marxists agree with capitalism

Answer 4

no

Question 5

what is capitalism in society based on

Answer 5

the individual and private ownership of wealth

Question 6

what is inevitable within a capitalist society

Answer 6

huge inequalities in income and wealth

Question 7

what did Marx see that capitalism led to

Answer 7

the emergence of an extremely two class system

Question 8

whats included in the two class system

Answer 8

• a class of owners

- a class of non owners

Question 9

what is the class of owners in the two class system

Answer 9

• the capitalists owners of economy
• rich, wealthy, powerful
• bourgeoisie
• ruling elite

Question 10

bourgeoisie

Answer 10

the capitalist class who own most of society’s wealth and means of production

Question 11

what is the class of non owners in the two class system

Answer 11

• workers, labouring class
• lacking power and wealth
• subordinate (subject) class
• proletariat

Question 12

proletariat

Answer 12

working-class people regarded collectively

Question 13

how much of the worlds wealth does each f the classes own

Answer 13

• owners (ruling class) 90%

- non owners (subordinate class) 10%

Question 14

egalitarian

Answer 14

equal society

Question 15

are both classes dependant on each other? why

Answer 15

yes

owners depend on n/o for labour and n/o depend on them for money

Question 16

how can the dependance on each other lead to exploitation within the two class system

Answer 16

n/o are overworked and aren’t given money to reflect this

Question 17

why might the owners not feel as though they have to listen to n/o

Answer 17

theres always more workers

the workers have a low bargaining position so are weak

Question 18

false class consciousness

Answer 18

the true nature of an exploitive situation is distorted to the real nature of the problem

Question 19

what is false class consciousness a result of

Answer 19

ruling class ideology

Question 20

who does Marx say suffers from false class consciousness

Answer 20

proletariat

Question 21

what do marxists see ed as based on

Answer 21

class division and capitalist exploitation

Question 22

status quo

Answer 22

the norm, how things are

Question 23

how do Marxists believe the status quo is maintained

Answer 23

the bourgeoise control the state, enabling them to maintain their dominant position

Question 24

why are marxists so critical of educations

Answer 24

the state use it as a means to prevent revolutions and maintain capitalism

• marxists disagree with capitalism
• say it encourages people to conform
• creates a society of conformers

Question 25

when was Althusser

Answer 25

1971

Question 26

what did Althusser say

Answer 26

the state consists of two essential elements, serving to keep the bourgeoisie in power

Question 27

who said the state consists of two essential elements, serving to keep the bourgeoisie in power

Answer 27

Althusser 1971

Question 28

what are the two elements Althusser (1971) talks of

Answer 28

- the repressive state apparatus (RSAs) | - the idealogical state apparatus (ISAs)

Question 29

what do the RSAs do

Answer 29

maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by force/ threat of | often to repress the working class

Question 30

what does the RSAs include

Answer 30

- police - courts - army

Question 31

what do the ISAs do

Answer 31

maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by controlling peoples ideas values and beliefs

Question 32

what does the ISAs include

Answer 32

- religion - mass media - education system

Question 33

who do marxists say is more powerful out of RSA and ISA

Answer 33

ISAs because they control in less obvious ways and you don't realise you're being indoctrinated (e.g. children I schools)

Question 34

what 2 functions does Althusser say education performs

Answer 34

- reproduces class inequality | - legitimising class inequality

Question 35

how does Althusser say ed reproduces class inequalities

Answer 35

transmitting it from generation to generation, by failing each successive generation of working class pupils

Question 36

how does Althusser say ed legitimises class inequality

Answer 36

produces ideologies that disguise its true cause, persuading workers to accept that inequality is inevitable and they deserve their subordinate position in society

Question 37

when were Bowles and Gintis

Answer 37

1976

Question 38

what did Bowles and giants say about education

Answer 38

its best understood as an institution acting to reinforce social relationships existing in economic life

Question 39

what did Bowles and Gintis say schools foster

Answer 39

types of personality development compatible with the relationships of domination and subordination in work and society as a whole

Question 40

who's happy and who's critical of school as a microcosm of society

Answer 40

functionalists- happy | marxists- critical

Question 41

how do Bowles and Gintis say the education system operates

Answer 41

through the hidden curriculum, not the official one

Question 42

hidden curriculum

Answer 42

informal, unofficial curriculum that runs alongside the official/formal curriculum and teaches us more

Question 43

examples of things taught through hidden curric

Answer 43

``` rules regarding behaviour social skills respect punctuality sanctions (punishments) ```

Question 44

what do Bowles and Gintis say the role of society is in a capitalist society

Answer 44

to reproduce an obedient workforce hat accept inequality as inevitable

Question 45

what are the four parts of the correspondence principle

Answer 45

- relationships of authority and control - relationships of domination and subordination - fragmentation of knowledge - motivation by external rewards

Question 46

what are the relationships of authority and control in school

Answer 46

students/teachers | teachers among teachers

Question 47

what do the relationships of authority and control represent within a school

Answer 47

they reflect the hierarchy of authority in the workplace, it prepares students to accept the hierarchy of of authority

Question 48

what do relationships of domination and subordination differ in relation to

Answer 48

the type of school and level of schooling, schools do different things to different students

Question 49

what do relationships of domination and subordination reflect

Answer 49

the different levels of the occupational structure - at lower evils workers are given more supervision and guidance - higher levels trusted to internalise the company's goals

Question 50

how is fragmentation of knowledge reflected

Answer 50

the division of labour (work) into small, meaningless tasks

Question 51

what are pupils, mainly, motivated by

Answer 51

extrinsic rewards rather ran interest in the subjects studied

Question 52

what does motivation by external rewards reflect

Answer 52

the roles of wages as motivation for the workforce rather than intrinsic satisfaction from the job itself

Question 53

what is a capitalist society based on

Answer 53

inequality

Question 54

how do Bowles and Gintis say the ed system prevents rebellions

Answer 54

legitimising class inequalities, producing ideologies that justify why its natural fair, natural and inevitable

Question 55

what do Bowles and Gintis say the ed system is

Answer 55

a 'gigantic myth making machine'

Question 56

what do Bowles and Gintis say the key myth of the ed system, is

Answer 56

the 'myth of meritocracy'

Question 57

what is the myth of meritocracy

Answer 57

it justifies the privileges of the higher classes

Question 58

how does the ed system justify poverty

Answer 58

promoting the 'poor are dumb' myth, blaming poverty on the individual rather than capitalism