Marxism

Question 1

Social control

Answer 1

Althusser- education system is an ideological state apparatus that is used to brainwash the proletariat into not realising their being exploited (false class consciousness) this is done through the hidden curriculum at school when students are taught things covertly eg respecting the hierarchy

Question 2

Evaluation for social control

Answer 2

Functionalism- respecting the hierarchy is a good thing for society as it provides an incentive to work harder and gain a higher status

Question 3

Correspondence principle

Answer 3

Bowles and Gintis argue educations system maintains capitalism as it creates obedient workers that are passive and docile the education system contributes through the hidden curriculum eg hierarchy dress code competition

Question 4

Evaluation for correspondence principle

Answer 4

Postmodernist would argue that this idea is outdated as they’re is no need for passive and docile workers in the new society instead workers need to be creative and flexible

Question 5

Secondary socialisation

Answer 5

Education system passes on norms and values that benefit the bourgeoisie eg myth of meritocracy which tells pupils that they’re rewarded based on ability and effort when in reality it’s class and background they do this so WC blame themselves for not succeeding

Question 6

Evaluation for secondary socialisation

Answer 6

Functionalism- students from all different backgrounds can go to university and succeed as all pupils have a free education and taught the same subjects in the national curriculum

Question 7

Sifting and sorting

Answer 7

Bowles and Gintis argue the role allocation is based on class rather than ability and effort
Stephen Ball- found that pupils were placed into different bands based on their fathers job

Question 8

Evaluation for sifting and sorting

Answer 8

Postmodernists would argue this view is outdated as the system no longer sifts and sorts WC pupils solely into into manual labour