Education

Question 1

Theory of Education: 5 functions of education

Answer 1

1. Role Allocation: we need people doing different jobs
2. Solidarity: everyone learns the same thing
3. Specialist Skills: can only gain through education
4. Economic function: vocational training
5. Meritocracy; everyone has equal opportunities in education

Question 2

Durkheim: Solidarity and Skills

Answer 2

1. Creating social solidarity: studies into a shared culture of beliefs/values from one generation to the next
2. Teaching specialist skills: education prepares us for a modern industrial economy by teaching individuals the skills to contribute to the economy
3. How does school prepare us for the economy? Vocational training: where learners acquire job specific knowledge on the job for = role in division of labour

Question 3

Talcott Parsons (1961) Meritocracy

Answer 3

• everyone is given an equal opportunity to achieve and be successful = own effort and ability

Question 4

Davis and Moore (1945) Role Allocation

Answer 4

• examinations and qualifications, schools match students ability to do particular subjects and skills depending on strengths and weaknesses which prepare them for future roles.
• effective use of talent and maximise it for productivity for the economy.

Question 5

A New Right Perspective of Education: Chubb and Moe (1990) Consumer Choice

Answer 5

• conducted a survey of 6,000 pupils from low income families
• parental attitudes to how schools should run and the level of choice
• propose a voucher system for state education to compete to attract ‘customers’or their spending power by improving their ‘product’.

Question 6

Marxism: Althusser (1971)

Answer 6

• education is a part of the ideological state ideological state
• two aspects:
  1. Repressive state apparatus: power is maintained through coercive force or the threat of it

2. Ideological state apparatus: which maintains the ruling class power through manipulating/ controlling our ideas, values and beliefs

Question 7

What is education ideological?

Answer 7

• a system of ideas, especially one which form the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Question 8

How does school ‘Mirror’ work?

Answer 8

• through hierarchical structure
• work in a capitalist society

Question 9

Bowels and Gintis: The Correspondence Principle (1976)

Answer 9

• 237 students NY high school
• schools rewarded the personality traits for an obedient and unquestionable workforce = type that capitalists see as successful
• the structures and relationships found in education mirror those in the workplace , known as the correspondence principle.
• only exists in the ‘hidden curriculum’

Question 10

Bowles and Gintis argument:

Answer 10

• argue that education doesn’t maintain capitalism through ideology
• it maintains the conditions required for capitalism by almost acting like a factory

Question 11

Paul Wallis: (evaluation of marxism)

Answer 11

• argues pupils rebelling are evidence not all students are brainwashed into being passive, subordinate people as a result of hidden curriculum.
• some pupils reject these values and ideas.
• they also realise that the do not have real opportunity to succeed in this system.

Question 12

continuation:

Answer 12

1. acceptance of hierarchy
2. Competition and Division
3. Motivation by external rewards
4. Fragmentation

Question 13

what is cultural deprivation?

Answer 13

• a theory where a person has inferior norms, values, skills and knowledge

Question 14

what is a social class?

Answer 14

• a group of people within a society who possess the same socioeconomic status

Question 15

external factors:

Answer 15

• cultural deprivation
• material deprivation
• cultural deprivation

Question 16

internal factors:

Answer 16

• labelling
• the self-fulfilling prophecy
• pupil subcultures
• marketisation and selection policies

Question 17

language:

Answer 17

• Basil Bernstein states that lang is linked to developing, understanding and thinking

Question 18

two types of codes:

Answer 18

• restricted code: simple/slang language, lang used between family and friends, informal, everyday
• elaborated code: analytical, explicit, complex, language used by strangers and individuals in formal context.

Question 19

attitudes and values:

Answer 19

• Douglas: working class parents place less value on education
• lack of encouragement
• lack of interest, less motivation and support
• less ambitious

Question 20

continuation: attitudes and values

Answer 20

• Sugarman: 4 features of lower class barriers
  1. Fatalism: “whatever will be will be”
  2. Collectivism: becoming part of group is more valued than achieving individually
  3. Immediate gratification: pleasure now, rather than making sacrifices to gain success
  4. Present-time orientation: present is more important than future
• m/c are more focused on future prospects

Question 21

Compensation Education:

Answer 21

• educational prospects intended to make up for experiences laced by disadvantaged children
• examples: summer school, after-school or other education programs

Question 22

Material deprivation:

Answer 22

• inability to afford basic necessities and service.
• negative effect on education achievement

Question 23

Factors affecting children’s education:

Answer 23

• housing
• diet and health (sue start)
• financial support and the cost of education

Question 24

Cultural capital:

Answer 24

Pierre Bourdieu: criticism, claims that w/c are not to blame but the failiure is the education system

Question 25

4 types of captials:

Answer 25

1. economic capital
2. social capital
3. culture capital
4. educational capital

Question 26

Parental choice:

Answer 26

Sharon Gerwitz: 3 main types of parents:
1: privileged-skilled choosers
2. disconnected-skilled choosers
3. semi-skilled choosers