Marxist theory on education

Question 1

Overall assumption of education?

Answer 1

-The role of education is to produce an efficient workforce
-Helps maintain a capitalist society
-Ideological tool to control the workforce

Question 2

Althusser view on education?

Answer 2

The Upper class uses the ideological state apparatus to controll ruling class

Question 3

Althussers- What is the ideological state aparatus?

Answer 3

The ideological state aparatus is a tool the upper class use to teach the lower class skills to be apart of the workforce
Reproducing dominant ideologlys adn inequalitys

Question 4

Althusser- How to school achieve the ISA?

Answer 4

-Through the hidden circulum
-Teachinh us basic skills e.g. maths english
-Cirriculum mc centered (mc music history)
-myth of meritocracy
-arts are ignored

Question 5

Althusser- how is the isa used in contemempary aplication?

Answer 5

The national curicullum
Students have to pass maths and english until 18

Question 6

Criticisms of Althusser?

Answer 6

-Functionalists agree with marxist on some parts but everything happends for a reason and its benefical for society
-Little evidence for theory
-Post modernists say now more pathways to succsess rather than education in our societys such as social media
-Dertermenistic many students who sucseed and fail, more w/c children in higher education then ever before

Question 7

Bourdies view on education?
Whats a habitus and culture capital?

Answer 7

Reproduce culture
Habitus- different tastes and attributes of individuals, our likes and dislikes
Culture Capital- The value of persons knowledge, mc only have this as they can afford to go to museams

Question 8

Bordie how does the habitus spread?

Answer 8

Mainly all teachers are middle class aswell as those who right the curiculum so they are able to reproduce and spread this.
Explains why m/c do better as they know all these things whereas w/c dont

Question 9

How does inequality spread Bordeiu?

Answer 9

Teachers use language the w/c cant use- elaborate code
Dress code- W/C cant afford uniform so therefroe buy cheeper clothes such as leggings instead of skirts meaning they get sent out and removed from lessons
Formal cultural knowledge- m/c tests used aswell as music all different to the ones the w/c use

Question 10

Bordeui- contempery applications in modern day society?

Answer 10

Ofsted- all students should be given opportunity for social mobility- marxists reject this as it forces the m/c culture
Uniform- Favors m/c dressed more formally
-M/c knowledge in curriculum
-Teachers judgment

Question 11

Supports of Bourdieu

Answer 11

Archer- nike identity’s e/c wearing brands and getting mistreated by teachers
Reay- Conflict with males- follow m/c getting ahead of the w/c habitus
Sullivan- Students high achieve had m/c culture capital at home e.g. documentary’s

Question 12

Critics of Bourdieu?

Answer 12

-functionalist, its mediocratic educational curriculums needed to succeed
-Socialised into value consensus- skills needed to teach
-Students acquire culture capital through education

Question 13

Overview of Bowles and Gintis theory?

Answer 13

Education casts a large shadow over work
Reproduction of working
Hidden curriculum

Question 14

How does education cast a large shadow over work?

Answer 14

-your schooling qualifications will follow you for the rest of your life
-School mirrors the workforce e.g. punctuality, rewards and punishment (prefect in school-promotions and detentions-warning or fired), extrinsic motivation, divisons/sets, higherarchy and priveleges for conforming

Question 15

How does school legitimise inequality?

Answer 15

Children are socialised into their roles in which they will get w/c jobs later on in life
This isnt due to ability but its ultimately due to the fact that the m/c is favored due to curriculum etc

Question 16

Bowles and Gintis theory on contemporary education?

Answer 16

Uniform policy
Conservatives- giving teacher powers back
Academy’s- labor gov
Apprenticeship and vocational education school and workplace becoming alive

Question 17

Characteristic of hidden curriculum?

Answer 17

Subservient, motivation, hierarchy, legitimising inequality’s and fragmentation of knowledge

Question 18

Critics of Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 18

Functionalist- agree that schools prepare students for work but believe its for our social benefit
Not all students are passive puppets
School equips us with necessary skills
If it prepares us for work- why do we have apprenticeships?

Question 19

Willis- neo Marxist view on education?

Answer 19

Students aren’t passive puppets and are aware of the exploitation
Found this out by doing study on 12 boys labeled ‘the lads’ who rebelled their status and anti school subcultures

Question 20

Conclusion of Willis is study?

Answer 20

education isn’t for learning its for socialising with peers
Lads didn’t try as they know they will get a job on construction sites fro peers, family members and ‘cousins’
Contradicts work of functionalist and marxists who say they are passive puppets
Lads aware of exploitation but don’t conform to it

Question 21

Willis study and application to contemporary society?

Answer 21

Underachievement explained by teacher labeling (label boys as lazy so treat them like that)

Question 22

Critics of willis?

Answer 22

Hawthorne effect- boys tried to impress other boys
-Observer affect
-Boys have free will, do they actually choose to fail or are they victims to labelling
-Ironic, although boys protest against labelling and the capitalist society they actually conform to it as they will end up getting low skilled jobs just like the m/c say