Althusser On Education (conflict Theory)

Question 1

Althusser- state apparatus

Answer 1

Ruling class looks to control masses through different apparatuses

Repressive state apparatus

• physical control, coercion
• police, military, courts

Ideological state apparatus

• control over thoughts, beliefs and ideas
• education, religion, media

Question 2

What does the ideological state apparatus do

Answer 2

Teaching students the necessary skills for employment (education was preparing students for like of exploitation)
Reproduces the dominant ideology of ruling class (hegemony)
Reproduces and legitimises inequality (myth of meritocracy)

Question 3

How do schools achieve this

Answer 3

Fragmented curriculum (doesn’t explain the wider issues of society)

Basic skills- literacy, numeracy (key skills for the economy)

Curriculum based on ruling class values- history, literature, music (dominated by MC)

Myth of meritocracy (hard work and natural ability leads to success)

Question 4

How can this be applied to contemporary education

Answer 4

• National curriculum split into distinct subjects
• students to study for passing grade in English and Maths until 18
• changes to curriculum under coalition government
• growth mindset

Question 5

Criticisms

Answer 5

Functionalist view: agree with Marxist ideas, but suggest that they are beneficial for society

Limited empirical evidence for Althusser’s ideas (more theoretical)

Postmodernists would suggest education is one way of expressing ability in contemporary society

Deterministic- more children from manual labour backgrounds going into HE than ever before- still only 9%