marxism

Question 1

what do marxist’s say about society?

Answer 1

suggestions to the way society is heading.
creating a fairer society.
make use out of everyone.
opposite of capitalism.
made during the industrial revolution.
education will develop the working class and overthrow the bourgeoisie.
conflict theory (opposite of functionlisim)

Question 2

class division

Answer 2

the minority (the capitalists) the bourgeois own factories/land and own the means of production (jobs).

the bourgeois exploit the proletariat

the working class (the proletariat) sell their labor, own no means of production.

capitalism- divided by conflict rich exploiting the poor.

Question 3

Marxist perspective on education

Answer 3

1. bourgeoisie can control the state due to the education system and Marxists see education as a way to prevent revolution and maintain capitalism.
2. class conflict can make the working class realize they are being exploited and they can demand higher wages, better working conditions or even abort capitalism itself
3. Marxism can overthrow the capitalist system and create an equal society.
4. working class have no control
5. see education based on class division and capitalist exploitation
6. divide the working class and middle class creates potential class conflict.

Question 4

role of education

Answer 4

provides workforce for the future and education reduces social mobility.

Marxists say it encourages young people to accept their position in society. (makes the youth never question their role)

gives the impression that many fail and it is their own fault. (meritocracy is nonsense)

Question 5

Louis Althusser
(marxist)

Answer 5

the reproduction of an efficient labor force is the main aim of education, this involves…

1. the reproduction of technical skills
   (media messages, brainwashing)
2. the reproduction of ruling class ideas and getting workers to accept this- persuasion
   (called false class consciousness)

ruling class must win the hearts and minds of the masses
this is to convince them to accept ruling class ideas (e.g. you will be a worker for ever and will only earn minimum wage)
this is done through a number of ideological state apparatuses (ISA) which persuade us that capitalism is valid. These include the family, law, religion and education (brainwash)

Question 6

ideological state apparatuses

Answer 6

education is the main ideological state apparatus (ISA).
justifies capitalism.
selects people for different social roles.
students are persuaded to submit to exploitation.

Question 7

Bowles and Gintis

Answer 7

they wrote schooling in capitalist america 1979.

capitalism requires a workforce with the kind of attitudes, behaviors and personal type suited to their role as alienated and exploited workers - willing to accept low, hard pay.

they studied 237 new york high school students. school rewarded students on Marxist personality traits like ‘being submissive’ or a compliant worker.
(e.g. found that creative, independent students get low grades compared to those students)

concluded that schooling helps reproduce the obedient workers capitalism needs.

Question 8

how does education mirror the workplace?

Answer 8

students work for rewards
employees work or a wage.

school timings teach us not to be late by getting sanctions. likewise in work if you are late you night get fired.

people higher up the school structure have more autonomy but have more responsibilities ( senior staff and bosses).

school and work are repetitive.

rules prevent personal choice.

students treat teachers like employees treat their boss.
HIDDEN CURRICULUM: teach children for 12-13 years how to be submissive so at your job its already natural- ready for exploitation.

uniform mimics formal wear

Question 9

correspondence theory

Answer 9

REVOLUTION- one day society will wake up and challenge capitalism. teachers are here to stop this from happening.

the fragmentation (start and end of the day) of the school day and subjects corresponds to the fragmentation of the workplace, by keeping workers unaware of the overall running of a business (rc don’t want us to be successful), they cannot use the knowledge to set up in competition

“give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you ruin a great business opportunity”

Question 10

the myth of meritocracy: class inequality

Answer 10

the education system is the barrier between the working class and the idea of a revolt. education teaches us this is a far fetched idea and is unrealistic to pull off. (keep us obedient and subservient)

does this by producing ideologies that serve to explain and justify why inequality is fair, natural and inevitable

Bowles and Ginis describe the education system as a ‘myth making machine’. a key myth that glorifies the idea of meritocracy. evidence shows that there are many factors like family background, income and gender that all play huge parts on how well someone will perform at school

meritocracy serves privilege to the bourgeois making it seem they worked hard at school when in reality it was not a fair competition. this deceives the working class to think inequality is not real and are discouraged to overthrow capitalists