Education past paper questions

Question 1

Describe two examples of how schools may be ethnocentric

Answer 1

• Dominant group’s language as medium of instruction.
• Selection of subject matter/role models, e.g. artists, writers, scientists
  studied.
• Dominant group’s religion taught or practised in school.
• Perspective on history from dominant ethnic group.
• Portrayal of ethnic groups in reading schemes, story books, etc.
• Guidance towards subject or career choices based on ethnic stereotypes.
• Racist labelling by teachers.
• Peer group racist discrimination

Question 2

Describe two problems in using IQ tests to measure educational ability. (4mks)

Answer 2

• Cultural bias of tests; ethnic or class
• Performance depends on experience and practice
• Performance depends on context of test, e.g. health, anxiety, motivation
• Concept of general intelligence questionable; multiple intelligences,
  different abilities for different subjects
• Intelligence not fixed over time
• Problematic nature of measuring intelligence

Question 3

Explain two reasons why gender stereotypes might influence
educational attainment. 8mks

Answer 3

• Laddish behaviour resulting from stereotypical self-image of masculinity
• Avoidance of some subjects a pupil could have done well in if they are
  seen as more appropriate for opposite gender
• Parents expectations or expenditure less on girls if seen as destined for
  main role in home
• Boys seen by teachers as talented but lazy, over-estimate own ability.
• Boys are overconfident due to their masculine self-image, discouraging
  effort.
• If girls are seen as diligent and motivated, they may receive more support
  and positive attention from teachers
• Girls may be seen as quiet and conformist, may be given less attention,
  seem “invisible”, so lower self-esteem.
• Teachers may have stricter view of female deviance, giving nonconformists more negative labels

Question 4

‘Cultural deprivation is the main reason for differences in educational
attainment.’
Using sociological material, give two arguments against this view. (12mks)

Answer 4

• Material deprivation is more significant.
• The culture of the school, habitus, ethnocentricity, etc. is the factor which
  causes the pupils background to affect their attainment.
• The capitalist system determines who is required to attain different levels
  in education to meet the needs of the labour market.
• If a system is meritocratic then the individual’s ability and effort will
  determine their attainment.
• Teacher’s allocation of attention and work according to labels based on
  class, gender or ethnicity.
• Effects of labelling on self-concept, effort and attainment.
• Formation of anti-school subcultures resulting from labelling and
  streaming.

Question 5

Evaluate the view that the role of education is to provide economic
benefits for society. (26mks)

Answer 5

for;
* Durkheim’s functionalist theory; value consensus, community, rules and the division of labour
* Parsons’ values of universalism and achievement, meritocracy
* Social democratic view of equal opportunity and economic progress.
* Hidden curriculum; norms and rituals
* National values in textbooks
* Education is a shared experience that people have in common.
* Education correlating with economic development
* Social democratic reforms and evidence for increased mobility
for all
* New Right and Policies to raise standards and improve relevance of curriculum
* Functionalist theory of stratification and role allocation
* Functionalist model of education maintaining social order enabling economic prosperity
Against;
* Marxist conflict model
– imposing ruling
class values
* Althusser –
Ideological State
Apparatus
* Bowles and Gintis –
preparing capitalist
labour force
* Bourdieu – cultural
capital of middle class
rewarded. School only
reflects middle class
habitus
* Feminist critique of
patriarchy
* Ethnocentricity and
institutional racism
* Subcultural rejection
of school values
* Divisions in and
between schools by
class, religion, gender
and type of school
* Marxist model of
education maintaining
capitalism and
benefiting bourgeoisie
* Althusser ISA
legitimising inequality
* Bowles and Gintis
reproduction of labour
force to serve
capitalists
* Willis on working class
lads
* Young on curriculum
and control
* Education as a global
commodity for profit
* Reinforcing failure and
deprivation