MARXIST perspective on education

Question 1

What two apparatuses does Althusser say the state use to keep the bourgeoisie in power? And… What do they do?

Answer 1

The repressive state apparatuses : maintain bourgeois rule through threat - police, court, army. When necessary FORCE is used.
The ideological state apparatus : maintain bourgeois rule through controlling people’s thoughts: religion, media, education system.

Question 2

What are Althusser’s two functions for education?

Answer 2

Reproducing class inequality - transmitting for generation to generation by failing each generation of w/c pupils

Legitimising class inequality - producing ideology that persuades workers to accept that inequality is inevitable and they deserve lower position in society.

Question 3

What do Bowles and Gintis say is the role of education?

Answer 3

Reproduce an obedient workforce (with the attitudes, personality and behaviour suited to their role as an exploited worker) that accept inequality.

Question 4

What did Bowles and Gintis conclude from their study of 237 NY high school students?

Answer 4

Schools reward the traits that are specifically the kind of traits that make for a submissive and complaint worker.
E.g creativity and independence often earned them low grades.
Whereas, those who showed punctuality and were disciplined gained higher grades.

Question 5

What similarities are there to schools and the work place?

Answer 5

Hierarchy
Alienation of pupils/workers to reflect their lack of control
Rewards
Fragmentation of tasks
Competition/division
Levels of achievement/experience