Marxist Flashcards
Marxist theory on the role of education? brief
Education system = part of the superstructure + exists solely to serve needs to capitalism and protect ruling class power. Does so by creating R/C ideology to maintain false class consciousness.
Marxist sociologists
Althusser
Bowles and Gintis
Willis
Althusser
Education system protects R/C power bc it’s a part of ideological state apparatus. It fulfils this function by:
reproducing class inequalities – failing each successive generations of the w/c so they can’t better themselves, ie) via setting + foundation level exams. Poor stay poor +rich stay rich legitimising class inequality – producing ideologies (ideas + beliefs) that disguise truth. So w/c think system they live in is just + fair, e.g. you failed because of low attendance, lack of revision,..
Criticisms of Althusser
Over-emphasises influence of class + ignores other factors which lead to social inequality in education such as gender, ethnicity and sexuality. Deterministic - assumes students passively follow the ruling class ideology created by the education system when, in fact, students have free will and can see through the ideology.
Bowles and Gintis
The role of education= produce obedient, workforce that will accept inequality as inevitable. It does this through:
1)Reproduction of class inequality through:
A)the correspondence principle –close links b/w school +work, schools mirror workplace eg) both are hierarchies, both students and workers are alienated from their work due to a lack of control, separation of knowledge at school mirrors separation of tasks at work, etc.
Therefore, education prepares students for Fordism – a system of work which includes boring, repetitive and alienating work such as assembly line factory work.Also, the education system rewards submissive, punctual + compliant students.
B)Hidden curriculum – things students learn through everyday life at school – to obey authority, be punctual, etc.
2)Legitimation of class inequality – producing ideas which justify inequality. Education = a ‘myth making machine’. Biggest myth is the myth of meritocracy.Those who succeed do so due to M/C background, but system makes it look as if reason for their success is their hard work + natural ability. Makes it look as if w/c= poor bc they weren’t smart enough to do well at school. Thus blame is placed on individual, not capitalism. Prevents w/c from rebelling.
Criticisms of Bowles and Gintis?
Theory is deterministic - Assume students passively accept R/C ideology.
Not all subjects indoctrinate, e.g. Sociology opens their minds to social inequality!
Postmodernists argue today’s post-Fordist economy needs skilled, adaptable workforce.
Feminists criticise Marxists for ignoring other social inequalities reinforced by the education system, e.g. gender inequality.
Willis
Role of education= reproducing + legitimating class inequalities by creating obedient workforce.
(But,his work = less deterministic than Bowles + Gintis as he acknowledges free will of students.)
W/c pupils can resist indoctrination they are subjected to at school. But, resistance to indoctrination slots them into labour force that meets needs of capitalism.
He studied 12 white w/c lads + their attitudes to school.
Had counter-school subculture opposed to school. Lads were scornful of students who did obey school rules + held sexist attitudes. Lads found school boring, meaningless and broke school rules by smoking + drinking. Didn’t believe hard work at school would lead to m/c jobs.
By holding anti school attitudes,boys failed their exams, thus only able to get low paid manual jobs.
Willis argues that there is a similarity between the counter-school culture and shopfloor culture of male manual workers. Both cultures see manual work as superior and intellectual work as inferior and effeminate. That’s why the lads see themselves as superior to girls and conformist boys. Moreover, the lads’ attitude to school helps prepare them for low paid, manual jobs.
Criticisms of Willis
Romanticises the lads – turns them into working class heroes despite their anti-social and sexist behaviour. Focuses on class inequality, thus ignoring gender and ethnic inequalities.
