Education Flashcards
What does Durkheim believe the education system provides?
instills social solidarity and teaches specialist skills
What does Durkheim mean by mechanical solidarity?
Family can provide all socialisation as there is little contact with other countries
what does Durkheim mean by organic solidarity?
Shared values of wider society
how does Durkheim believe education performs secondary socialisation?
Instilling, social solidarity
Teaching social rules
Teaching specialist skills
how do Marxist criticise Durkheim?
The powerful use education to spread their ideology
how can Durkheim view be seen as outdated?
post-modernists= shared value. Consensus is impossible in a diverse society.
Society is no longer based on assembly lines(post fordism)
how does Hargreaves criticise Durkheim view?
Education encourages, individualism and competition. It discourages, collaborative learning and says it is cheating or copying.
What are the two functions of education, according to Parsons?
rule, allocation and secondary socialisation
School bridges, the gap between home and society
how does education perform role allocation?
shift and sort people into their appropriate jobs through meritocracy
achieved status
how do Marxist criticise Parsons?
Myth of meritocracy
class inequalities are reproduced into the next generation,
false class consciousness
how do bowles and Gintis criticise parsons?
Plays small part in academic success
Academic success, turning into economic success, depends on social class, ethnicity and gender
What are examples of secondary socialisation being taught in school?
Hidden curriculum
Assessments
What do Davis and Moore say the education system facilitates?
roll allocation
Social stratification through meritocracy
Most hard-working people get the most important jobs
How does education practice social stratification?
Setting and streaming
Uni applications
how do Marxist criticised Davis and moore?
Wealthy and powerful have advantages through the myth of meritocracy
how else can we criticise Davis and Moore?
those with the best qualifications don’t always earn the highest wages
Family connections can equal high salaries
High levels of graduate unemployment
What does Althusser mean by the ideological state apparatus?
Control beliefs and ideas through education media and religion
How is education part of the ideological state apparatus?
Teaches students skills for employment
reproduces dominant ideology or ruling class
reproduces and legitimatises inequality
What does Althusser mean by the repressive state apparatus?
physical control and coercion
police and military
What is Bowels and Gintis correspondence principle?
there is a correspondence between school and the workplace
prepares pupils for capitalist system and prevents rebellion and revolution
‘work casts a long shadow over school’
What are the evaluations of the correspondence theory?
-outdated (1976) workplace is less like when they carried out their research
- can be seen as an issue with the education system, it corresponds with a different era of work Ken Robinson
-outdated school no longer like when they carried out their research
What is Paul Willis study ‘learning to labour’ investigating?
Anti school subculture in working class lads
‘having a laff’. ‘ear’ole’
Have little rebellions in school which stop meaningful rebellions against capitalism
what are the four types of capital identified by Bourdieu?
social
economic
cultural
symbolic reputation
What does Bourdieu mean by convention?
one capital leads to another
What does Bourdieu mean by habitus?
culture of one social class
deeply ingrained in individuals subconsciously
What are evaluations of Bourdieu?
- definition of cultural capital isn’t precise
- Marxist- ignores power of the economy to shape the education system
what are some evaluations of the neo marxist views on education?
schoolteachers coke from a range of social backgrounds as percentage of pupils from working class backgrounds get degrees
lots of teachers left wing biased
what are social democratic ideas?
government should heavily invest in education
Halsey- education system needs to provide equality of opportunity‘level playing field’
Schultz- skills and knowledge form of capital, increased spending on education makes the workforce more productive
What are criticisms of social democratic ideas?
Bernstein- education cant compensate for society (schools asked to ensure children brush their teeth) and the school curriculum isn’t designed to provide skills for economic growth
Wolf- no clear link between increased expenditure on education and subsequent economic growth
What is neoliberalism?
pro-capitalist economic theory
free market beat basis for organising society
What are the advantages of a free market system according to neoliberalism?
individual freedom
efficient- maximise profits
innovation- encourage new products to stimulate demand
economic growth and jobs
What do neoliberalisms believe about social policy?
governments should play a reduced role in managing the economy the free market knows best
•deregulation- reduce ahout of formal rules companies have
•fewer protection for workers and the environment
•privatisation
•cutting taxes
How are the NR different to neoliberals?
NR is a political philosophy associated with conservative government
they adopted and put into practice ideas of neoliberism
What are the key ideas for the NR?
•introduction of free market (marketisation of education)
•reduced spending by the state
•emphasis on individual freedom (cut welfare spending)
•stress on importance of traditional institutions and values (unlike neoliberalism) nuclear family
what three things do neoliberalism think about?
marketisation
privatisation
vocation
what was the tripartite system?
1944 education act
11+ exam meritocracy
.grammar schools- academic, mc
.secondary modern-wc failed 11+
. technical schools- skill in certain subject
what were the inequalities in the tripartite system?
.11+ unfair range of skills unaccounted for
.broadly seen as pass or fail
. assume ability is inborn
. reproduced social inequalities
. gender inequalities- girls has to gain higher
what is the comprehensive system?
mixed ability
local catchment area
aim to overcome class divide and make education more meritocratic
wanted 11+, academies and secondary moderns to be abolished
many schools didn’t go comprehensive
What do Functionalist think about the comprehensive system?
promote social integration
(Ford- little mixing between classes due to setting)
more meritocratic than 11+ as longer period to develop skills
What do Marxist think about the comprehensive system?
reproduce class inequalities through generations
setting and streaming and labelling
‘myth of meritocracy’ legitimised due to abolishment of 11+
What is the evaluation of the comprehensive system?
. rich areas= better schools
. middle class still afford to go private
. setting and streaming unequal and holds everyone back
. ‘same school= same opportunity’
What is marketisation?
reduce direct state control and increase parental choice and competitions
1988 conservative education reforms act
1997 new labour- blair + brown
2010 conservative liberal democrat
What did the education reform act 1988 consist of?
.national curriculum- easier to compare schools and move
.SATS- tested on same things at same time
. league tables- parentocracy
. formula funding- funding based on amount of pupils, driver of standards
. local management of schools- headteacher and governors look after budget
What is the evaluation for the education reform act?
. cream skim and silt shift pupils
. Ball parentocracy myth
. Gewirtz study on parent types
. Ball Bowe and Gewirtz students commodities, resources directed towards HR, schools focussed on parents
What is Gewirtz study on parental choice?
three types of parents:
.privileged skill choosers: capital, middle class, take full advantage of information and options
. disconnected local choosers: working class, hard to understand admissions, less aware, distance and cost of travelling
.semi skilled choosers: working class, ambitious, frustrated and found it difficult
What were New Labour policies 1997-2010
aim to reduce inequality
. EAZ education action zones- deprived areas- additional resources
. EMA- payment for low income students
. reduce primary school class sizes
. city academies- fresh start
What were the evaluations for New labour policies?
New Labour paradox- EMA tuition fees
policies not consistent
EAZ unsuccessful
Gilborn and Youdell- The A-C economy of triage- pressure from league table and funding ration time and resources to certain students
3 groups:
those who will pass either way
border line cases
hopeless cases
What is privatisation?
-schools being owned by private companies
- education becomes source of profit for capitalism (Ball- ESI- education services industry)
-ESI build schools, provide supply teachers, ofsted inspections
- PPI public private partnerships provide capital for projects like school buildings
what is cola isation?
vending machines on campus
logos and sponsorships
benefits to schools and pupils are often limited
Ball- cadbury sport equipment promotions- students had to eat 5440 bars to qualify for set of volleyball posts
What are examples of privatisation and globalisation in education?
edexcel- US
Ball- Pearson mark some GCSE answers in iowa and sydney
private companies export uk policies and provide services to deliver them
What is neoliberalism view on marketisation ?
state involvement leads to bureaucratic self interest- to overcome needs to be marketised
competition makes schools responsive and raise educational standards
gender issues in education privatisation?
19 th century female excluded from education
females needed higher grade on 11+
What was the conservative governments aim 2010-2015
encourage excellence, competition and innovation by freeing schools from the dead hand of the state
What did conservative governments do to academies?
.encouraged schools to leave local authority control, funding gave by central government
.control over own curriculum
.by 2017 over 68% all secondary schools
What are the conservative governments free schools?
funded by state
set up by parents teachers trusts religious groups
gives parents power
increases parental choice, competitions, diversity
England- fewer disadvantaged pupils taken by free schools
what were conservative policies to reduced inequality 2010-2015?
free school meals- reception, year 1, year 2
pupil premium- money for each pupil from a disadvantaged background
(Ofsted- not spend on pupils it is meant to be spent on)
how do wc subcultures effect educational achievement?
lack of parental interest in childs education
socialisation passes culture down through generation
What 4 features does Sugarman identify as a barrier in wc subculture
fatalism-belief in fate
collectivism
immediate gratification
present time orientation
what are the evaluations for the wc subculture acting as an external factor?
they are being realistic and responding to their environment
What does Hubbs-Tait et al say about language as an external factor?
mc parents use language that make the children question their own understanding ‘what do you think’ this improves cognitive performance
wc use simple descriptive sentences ‘what animal is this’
What does Feinstein say about language as a external factor?
educated parents use praise encouraging a childs sense of competence
what are Bernsteins codes of speech?
elaborated- mc, complex sentences, context free
restricted- wc, simple sentences, context bound
What are the evaluations for language as an external factor?
implies restricted code is substandard
assumes all manual workers are mc
school should teach the elaborated code of speech
what does Douglas say about parents education as an external factor?
wc place less emphasis on education, less ambitious for children, less encouragement, visited schools less, less likely to speak to teachers
leads to lower motivation and achievement
What are the four ways Feinstein identifies that mc can socialise their children better?
-use of income- Bernstein and Young mc mums buy books, toys, activities
-parenting style-mc use consistent discipline and high expectations, wc use harsh tones ‘do as you’re told’ prevents independence and self control
-parents educational behaviours-read, teach, letters, numbers, poems, songs
-class income and parental education
evaluation for parents education as an external factor
wc jobs have longer irregular hours so may be interested but not have the time or may feel judged
what compensatory education was introduced?
aim to tackle cultural deprivation extra resources for schools in deprived areas
EAZ, EIC, sure start, pupil premium, EMA
evaluation of cultural deprivation as an external factor
myth of cultural deprivation
Keddie- how can you be deprived of your own culture schools should recognise mc values and challenge them
How is housing a material factor?
Direct effect- overcrowding, less room for educational activity, homework, disturbed sleep
Indirect- childs health and welfare cold and damp lead to illness and absences from school
How is diet and health a material factor?
-Howard- lower intakes of energy, vitamins, minerals, more absences from school falling behind and lack of concentration
-Wilkinson- emotional and behavioural rates amongst 10 year olds, lower class leads to higher anxiety
Blanden and Machin- low income children engage in externalising behaviour
How is financial support and cost of education an external factor?
Tanner et al- cost of transport, uniforms, books, computers, sports all place a heavy burden on low income families
Flaherty- 20% of children dont get their FSM du to fear of stigmatisation
Ridge- children in poverty have to work part time, babysitters, paper rounds
How is fear of debt an external factor?
Callendar and Jackson- low income students 5 times less likely to apply to uni than debt tolerant ones
UCAS- when fees increased in 2021 applications fell by 8.6%
Reay- wc likely to apply to local unis and more likely to have lower class degrees
16.6% drop out at London Met and 1.5% at Oxford
what are the external/ cultural class factors?
parental education
compensatory education
wc subcultures
language
what does Douglas say about parents education?
wc class parents place less value on education, less ambitious for children, gave less encouragement, visited schools less often and spoke to teachers less. leads to lower levels of motivation and achievement
what does Feinstein say about parents education?
parents own education most important. Mc better educated and can socialise their children better in four ways
-parenting style- mc consistently discipline and place high expectations, wc harsh= ‘do as you’re told’ prevents independence and self discipline
-parents educational behaviours- read, teach letters, numbers, songs, poems
- use of income- Bernstein and Young= mc mums spend on educational toys and books
- class income and parental education- better educated parents produce better educated children
evaluation of parents education
wc jobs have longer irregular hours, parents may be interested but not have time and may feel judged
what compensatory education has been introduced?
aims to tackle cultural deprivation, provides extra resources to schools in deprived areas
- EAZ, EIC, sure start, EMA, pupil premium
-operation head start USA- improve parenting skills, set up nursery classes, home visits by educational psychologists
What is an evaluation for cultural deprivation?
myth of cultural deprivation- Keddie:
can’t be deprived of own culture, schools should recognise their mc values and challenge them