Marxist Views

Question 1

Traditional Marxists

Karl Marx

Answer 1

Education system performs 3 functions

• reproduces class inequality
• legitimises class inequality
• works in the interests with capitalist employers

Question 2

Reproduction of class inequality

Answer 2

m/c parents use material and cultural capital to ensure best schools and education that get m/c jobs

Question 3

Legitimises class inequality

Answer 3

Money determines education. People don’t realise this due to the ‘myth of meritocracy’
Controls w/c - less likely to rebel and revolutionalise.

Question 4

Myth of meritocracy

Answer 4

School teaches we get an equal chance of achievement and grades depend on effort. Fail = our fault.
Justifies system to think it’s fair when it’s NOT.

Question 5

Teaches skills needed for capitalist employers

[Bowles and Gintis]

Answer 5

similarities between skills learnt in school and skills of the workplace.
Taught through ‘Hidden Curriculum’ - learn skills necessary for manual jobs.

Question 6

Correspondance Principle 
(Bowles and Gintis)

Answer 6

Schools promotes values expected from individuals in each social class and prepare students for different types of jobs held by members of their classes. 
examples - uniform, strict time keeping, reward