Theories: Functionalism compared with Marxism and neo-Marxism

Question 1

What does Marxist Glenn Rikowski argue?

Answer 1

• There’s been a ‘business takeover’ of schools.
• In the UK, this has involved businesses sponsoring academies, the subcontracting of many school services, e.g. educational psychology services, to private businesses and an ever-growing emphasis on competition on schools.
• In terms of the curriculum, there is more emphasis on NVQs and BTEC in schools.

Question 2

What do Functionalists and Marxists + neo-Marxists have in common?

Answer 2

Functionalists exaggerate the beneficial benefits of education, whilst Marxist and neo-Marxists exaggerates the harmful effects of education.

Question 3

Do Functionalists and Marxists + neo-Marxists both have extreme views on the hidden curriculum?

Answer 3

Yes.
- Functionalists see it as entirely benefiting society as a whole.
- Marxists and neo-Marxists see it as entirely benefiting capitalism.

Question 4

What is something that they both don’t do?

Answer 4

Neither Marxists + neo-Marxists or Functionalists base their ideas on detailed research into the content of schooling today, nor do they acknowledge that education may have different effects for different groups at different times.

Question 5

What different views do F + M have on social divisions?

Answer 5

Marxists + neo-Marxists emphasise class above gender + ethnicity, while functionalists ignore social divisions altogether.

Question 6

What do they have in common when it comes to improving the education system?

Answer 6

Like functionalists, Marxists and neo-Marxists tend not to put forward suggestions for improving the education system.

Question 7

What differences do F + M have when making assumptions about education?

Answer 7

Functionalists tend to assume that education already functions well, while Marxists assume that education could only become fair and just if capitalist society were overthrown and replaced by a communist society.

Question 8

What is an evaluation on Functionalism being compared with Marxism and neo-Marxism?

Answer 8

• Neither suggests how education could be improved in existing societies.
• Other perspectives on education do make more concrete suggestions for how education could be improved, and these alternative perspectives will be discussed next.