marxists and education

Question 1

Althusser

Answer 1

ideological state apparatus- the ruling elite is maintained by controlling people’s ideas values and beliefs

education reproduces class inequality- transmitting it gen to gen, failing each successive gen of W/C people in run

education legitimates class inequality- producing ideologies that hide true case. function is to persuade workers to accept that inequality id inevitable and that they deserve their position in society
if accepted, less likely to challenge capitalism

Question 2

Bowles and Gintis

Answer 2

schools reward personality traits that are submissive and compliant
capitalism requires a workforce with the kind of attitudes, beh and personality type suited to their role as alienated and exploited workers willing to accept hard work and low pay
reproduce obedient and docile workforce- education system in capitalist society

school mirrors workplace- correspondence principle (thru hidden curriculum)

Question 3

Myth of Meritocracy

Answer 3

education system prevents rebellions by creating a myth and convincing W/C pupils to accept their position in society

the myth justifies the position of the higher class by making it seem that they have gained their dominant position thru hard work and competition within education

Bowles and Gintis have the ‘poor are dumb’ theory.

Question 4

Willis 1997

Answer 4

learning to labour
W/C boys form anti school subcultures
no value consensus and pupils were actively rejecting norms and values
benefited capitalism as no meritocracy

Question 5

EVAL

Answer 5

post modernists critique Bowles and G’s correspondence principle as today’s economy requires schools to produce different kinds of labour. education now encourages diversity

B+G take a deterministic approach assuming ppl have no free will and accept indoctrination

W’s study can’t be generalised

Morrow and Torres argue society is now more diverse and criticise marxists for taking a first class approach