Marxist views on the role of education Flashcards
what type of theory is marxism
a structural conflict theory
similarities with functionalism
also structural - regard the education system as social structure that contains the behaviour of largely passive individuals
also concerned with examining the way in which the socialisation, allocation and vocational roles of school and training courses perform economic functions
differences from functionalist view
conflict rather than consensus, take a pessimistic rather than optimistic view of the role of education
the education system does not benefit all of society, but only the ruling class
key functions of the education system according to marxists
education is the ideological state apparatus
education creates a passive and subservient workforce
education creates a myth of meritocracy
neo-marxism - students can be active in accepting or rejecting the exploitative hidden curriculum
how does Althusser ague - ISA
argues that the state controls the working class via two apparatuses
RSA - repressive state apparatus - control through force or the threat of it eg police, courts
ISA - ideological state apparatuses - control through ideas, values and beliefs eg the media, family and education
ISAs control the working class by persuading them to accept the dominant ideology (winning their hearts and minds)
what does Bourdeiu argue - ISA
the working class are duped into accepting their educational failure and limited social mobility
education system - designed to reproduce upper and middle class culture
working class - lack the cultural capital to succeed and the middle class succeed by default
how does education act as an ideological state apparatus
encourages children to think capitalism is reasonable - it is the fairest way of organising society, alternative systems are unnatural and irrational
encouraging pupils to passively accept their future roles
produces a compliant and obedient workforce
how would interactionists evaluate the ISA
argue that Althusser is deterministic
assumes that the working class pupils are brainwashed by ruling class ideology and passively accept their place
fails to explain how and why some reists
how would other marxists evaluate the ISA
Willis, a neo-marxist also argue that the working class can and do resist the ISA
what does marxist argue about creation of workforce
the capitalist class require a passive workforce which is easy to exploit as this enables them to pay low wages and make more profit
students are easy to exploit
children learn more through experience of going to school as opposed to main curriculum subjects
- values are taught through the hidden curriculum
eg students taught acceptance of hierarchy of teachers - managers in workplace
What is Bowles and Gintis’ theory on the hidden curriculum and the correspondence principle
schooling operates in the long shadow of work - there is a correspondence between social relationships and structures at school and at work
this teaches pupils the norms and values that will make them useful workers - socialisation
- prepares pupils for future as exploited workers - reproduces class inequality
eg punctuality - time belonging to the school, not the pupil teaches how good time-keeping at work - the employer pays for the worker’s time, so it belongs to the firm not the worker
evaluation of creation of workforce
doubtful whether schools successfully instil attitudes and values such as punctuality and obedience
Ofsted have often found that low-level disruption is commonplace in many schools today eg students not turning up on time and not respecting or obeying teachers is relatively common in british schools
How would the new right evaluate the creation of workforce
Peter Saunders - new right
supports the claim that education has helped to create a more meritocratic and socially mobile society
marxists accused of being blind to any evidence which suggests that society is becoming more open
How would functionalists argue against the myth of meritocracy
Davis and Moore
argue that society is meritocratic
everyone has equal chance to succeed and make it into a top job if they work hard enough
How would the new right argue against the myth of meritocracy
Peter Saunders
believes that social mobility exists in Britain, and that if middle class do achieve above average then it is because they happen to be more clever