Education 1b Flashcards
To understand Marxist explanations of the role and functions of education system, e.g. in relation to ideological state apparatuses, reproduction and legitimation of social class inequality
How do Marxists see the education system
They see it as a system based on class division and capitalist exploitation -The status quo is maintained through the control the Bourgeoisie have over the state as they keep their dominant position
How does education function to prevent revolution
- acts as a safety valve
- encourages conformity
- punishment knocks the rebellion out of people
According to Althusser (1971) what are the two state apparatuses that help keep the bourgeoisie in power?
- The repressive state apparatus (RSA) used force, or the threat of force to keep power
- The ideological state apparatus (ISA) controlled people’s ideas through the media, education, region etc.
What 2 functions does education fulfil as an ISA
- It reproduces class inequality, by failing each successive generation of WC pupils it transmits class inequality from generation to generation
- It legitimises class inequality by persuading pupils that inequality is inevitable, making it unlikely to be challenged
How is the education system best understood by Bowles and Gintis (1976)
The education system is best described as an institution that reinforces inegalitarian social relations by splitting pupils into the subordinate and the dominant by setting them into the bottom/top classes and through teacher/student relationships
All of which is learnt through the hidden curriculum
What is the role of education in a capitalist society according to Bowles and Gintis
- reproduce an obedient workforce
- accept inequality as inevitable
- they argue there are parallels between school and work through the correspondence principle
What are the 4 points of the correspondence principle
- Relationships of authority and control
- Relationships of domination and subordination
- Fragmentation of knowledge
- Motivation by external rewards
Explain relationships of authority and control in terms of the correspondence principle
- Hierarchy within school (between teachers and students) reflects hierarchy within the workplace
- It fosters deference to authority and acceptance of hierarchy
- Alienation due to lack of control in school is felt by workers through a lack of control over production
Explain relationships of domination and subordination in terms of the correspondence principle
- this relationship differs between schools and level of schooling, reflecting the different levels of the occupation structure
- mainly WC schools emphasise obedience, conformity, and dependability, discouraging independence, innovation, initiative, and creativity
Explain the fragmentation of knowledge in terms of correspondence principle
- this is only giving people enough information to pass an exam and not actually understand and do something we’ll just like in the workplace they only give you enough information to know what to do not to make it yourself without any help or else they could overthrow the upperclassmen
Explain motivation by external rewards through the correspondence principle
- Motivation is from extrinsic rewards and not interest in the actual subject
- This mirrors the motivation within the workforce of promotion and not interest in the job itself
How does school prepare WC pupils for their role as a worker
- Accustoms them to follow rules or deferring authority
- Accustoms them to showing discontentment and having low expectations
- Gets them used to being subordinate to someone else and having limited knowledge to make money and not necessarily enjoy their job
What do Marxists claim that the education system is and why?
They claim it is a ‘ gigantic myth-making machine’
- promotes the myth of meritocracy
- justifies the privileges of the higher classes
- persuades the WC to accept inequality as legitimate as it promotes the myth that the poor are dumb which stops them from rebelling against the system as they lack the cultural capital to state otherwise
How does the education system perpetuate (reinforce) class inequality from generation to generation?
- more opportunities for the UC than the WC to succeed
- Gives the illusion that the UC gain status through merit
- pulls the wool over the eye
How does the education system perpetuate (reinforce) class inequality from generation to generation?
- more opportunities for the UC than the WC to succeed
- Gives the illusion that the UC gain status through merit
- pulls the wool over the eye