Marxist Theory

Question 1

What do Marxist’s say?

Answer 1

According to Marxists, education system is a part of the superstructure and as such it exists solely to serve the needs to capitalism and protect the ruling class power. They have a negative view.

Question 2

Althusser

Answer 2

the education system is a part of the ideological state apparatus. Working class is a fool that is used by the ruling class.

Question 3

Althusser - Ideological State Apparatus (1)

Answer 3

Reproduce social class and inequality:
keep the rich rich and the poor poor.
education prevents working class from getting good grade - done by exams - students are put into sets and bands - hierarchy
those in a low band can only get C’s- foundation paper
they will fail and have to get a job - work for the ruling class

Question 4

Althusser - Ideological State Apparatus (2)

Answer 4

legitimate class inequality:
justify-say it’s OK that their not smart - they make you blame yourself
when your stuck in a dead end job, you will blame yourself for not revising
prevents a revolution of the working class
ruling class continues to have control

Question 5

Althusser - Criticism

Answer 5

deterministic (factors of gender/ethnicity - social class)
he ignores that students still have free will and choose no to listen to the ruling class ideology 
some students know the truth- a revolution can still happen

Question 6

Willis

Answer 6

(Covert research - done in secret)-internal criticism - the other two sociologists have ignored free will
1970's- research carried out (18 months) - 12 white working class boys in YR 11- They were in a counter school subculture (rebelling gang) (Anti-school)(badly behaved, truanted, rude to teachers, bullies (well behaved boys, girls sexist) 
they were naughty because they realised the school was lying to them (false class consciousness)
you need good grades to get good jobs - if you didn't revise enough you fail -result in working for the ruling class.
fail exams - manual lower paid jobs - become tools - workers of capitalism
education makes you believe in the ruling class ideology
from the grandparents who worked in hard jobs (mining) but still got little pay = education - lying = rebelling

Question 7

Willis - Criticism

Answer 7

saw them as working class heroes - reality they weren’t/nasty
romanticises the lads ‘heroes’ - reality nasty bullies
small sample - not representative - can’t generalise
only white w/c boys - doesn’t apply to all children - ignores gender, ethnicity, religion etc

Question 8

Bowles and Gintis

Answer 8

role of education is to serve capitalism - this is by creating an obedient, unquestioning, positive workforce

Question 9

Bowles and Gintis - 1

Answer 9

Hidden Curriculum: things that aren’t on the curriculum - things you learn in everyday life - day to day things
discipline, manners, obedience, punctuality, attendance, etc - all these things are preparing you to be a worker

Question 10

Bowles and Gintis - 2

Answer 10

Correspondence Principle: schools mirror the workplace
hierarchy tell you your place - your at the bottom
both are boring - how to cope with boredom - makes you passive - have to deal will it - do nothing against it

Question 11

Bowles and Gintis - 3

Answer 11

Education is a Myth Making Machine:

Biggest myth is the myth of meritocracy -through the hidden curriculum - design to make you passive, obedient

Question 12

Bowles and Gintis - Criticism

Answer 12

believes that students are just going to take it and be obedient however students have freedom of speech and free will.
they can choose to rebel - w/c children fail and children from certain backgrounds fail because of discrimination

Question 13

Postmodernists - Criticisms of all Marxists Theories on Education

Answer 13

postmodernist society: 
highly individualised (self centered) 
highly liberal (free/open minded)
technology is advanced
highly diverse (families)
postmodernists may believe that the maxist theory is outdated because it applies to the modern society

Question 14

postmodernists - modern society

Answer 14

secondary sector - manufacturing - production of goods and services
factories - assembly line production - work is specialised - only know how to do one thing - limited skills - (manual low paid labour)
it is called Fordism - Henry Ford - first person to use this production line

Question 15

postmodernists - postmodern society

Answer 15

tertiary (call centers/services)and quarternary(research/internet)
weightless economy (no physical thing to hold-there are ideas) - work in offices (FB, google, apples etc)
need to have workers with lots of new ideas, they need to be creative, open minded, imaginative, attentive, patient, determine, resilient etc)