Marxist Theories of the Education System

Question 1

What are the 4 roles the education system plays according to Marxists?

Answer 1

• acts as a ideological state apparatus
• applies a correspondence principle
• legitimises class inequality
• encourages the working class to develop a subculture

Question 2

According to Althusser (1973) how does the education system apply an ideological state apparatus?

Answer 2

ISA refers to school transmitting the capitalist ideology and regard it as the adequate system. Help keep bourgeoisie in power. 
Reproduces class inequality as Althusser claims the w.c. Do worse in education than middle class students 
Justifies class inequality as the ISA promotes the idea that the w.c do worse in school because of their work ethic rather than structural reasons

Question 3

Evaluation of the view that the education system acts as an ideological state apparatus?

Answer 3

Not all teachers set out to deliberately sabotage the achievement of the working class

Question 4

According to Bowles and Gintis (1976) how does the education system apply a correspondence principle to the capitalist economy?

Answer 4

The idea that school mirrors the world of work. They are structured in a hierarchal way and have complete control over pupils’ timetables.
School also uses the hidden curriculum which is a series of subliminal messages which students then internalise. For example, not to challenge authority, must complete tasks for rewards. Benefits capitalism as it provides the economy with subordinate workers.

Question 5

Evaluation of the claim that the education system applies a correspondence principle to to the capitalist economy

Answer 5

nowadays the economy isn’t based on labour jobs, instead entrepreneurship

Question 6

According to Bowles and Gintis (1976) how does education help legitimise class inequality?

Answer 6

Believe in the myth of meritocracy. People are wrongly led to believe that the schooling system is fair, so any inequalities between classes is down to the laziness of the working class. 
The education system champions the view that middle class success is down to their hard work. It therefore makes the working class excluded and feel like higher education isn’t for them

Question 7

Evaluation of the view that education legitimise class inequality?

Answer 7

Quite determinist that Marxists feel that the education system disregards the working class and ignores the fact the working class can still do well in education

Question 8

According to Willis (1977) how does education encourage the working class to develop a counter culture?

Answer 8

In the Learning to Labour Study, 12 working class boys were very resistant to the middle class culture of school and deliberately disrupted lessons. They regard themselves as better than the middle class, often mocking the boys for being feminine.
Their poor exam skills led to them working in low income jobs, furthermore they had become accustomed to the boredom of school and therefore were fine with working in repetitive working class jobs

Question 9

Evaluation of the view that education encourages the creation of a counter culture

Answer 9

Theory isn’t relevant, economy has changed a lot and is more service sector based.