Marxist views

Question 1

Louis Althusser (1971)

Answer 1

education has an ‘ideological function’
> capitalism uses the education system as a ‘tool’ to control people’s minds ‘brainwashing’ them.
> it is, therefore a ‘ideological state apparatus’ - a form of equipment used by government to control people’s ideas.
> education reproduces ‘class inequality’ by transmitting capitalist views.
> it also ‘legitimates inequality’ by producing ideologies that convince people inequality is inevitable.
> in this way, he believes the working class are at a disadvantage as it convinces them their failure is all their fault - this prevents them from challenging capitalism.

Question 2

Bowles and Gintis (1976)

Answer 2

used questionnaires to study 237 New York High School students about their experience of high schools.
> they agree that school prepares them for future jobs - there is a ‘close correspondence principle’
> they believe the role allocation is unfair and it is done through the ‘hidden curriculum’ - this happens in the following ways:
ACCEPTANCE OF HIERARCHY - pupils learn at school that they must respect those in authority - ‘sir’ and ‘miss’ to address staff are a reminder they have higher status. - corresponds work as they conform to orders by managers.
SUBSERVIENCE - pupils are trained in school to be obedient and accept what they are told - refer to this as the ‘jug and mug principle’ where teachers ‘pour’ knowledge in to the pupils - corresponds workplace as they will follow the manager order
MOTIVATION BY EXTERNAL REWARD - the successful exam grade motivates students to comply with roles and work hard to succeed - this corresponds workplace as they work for the money rewards.
EVAL - not all pupils passively conform the school rules and some go against it.
EVAL - they didn’t spend much time in school therefore the research may not be as valid as it could possibly be

Question 3

Paul Willis (1977)

Answer 3

involves regular observations of 12 working class boys (‘lads’) in school in Midlands.
> he interviewed them in small groups during their last year of school and in their first months of work.
> claims schools are not successful in supporting capitalism in the way other Marxists assume.
> the ‘lads’ in the study rejected school in every way - the ‘counter-culture’ they held included values which turned everything education system prioritises upside down.
> the ‘lads’ were rude and defiant
> the attitudes were just as bad at work, the values of the ‘counter-culture’ transferred to the ‘shop-floor culture’ at work.
EVAL - only 12 working class boys is very small sample therefore it cannot represent everyone and is very general.