Neo-Marxist Perspective on Education Flashcards
who is the main Marxist in this Neo Marxist perspective
Paul Willis (1977)
when was Paul Willis
1977
what do all Marxists agree on (to do with capitalism)
capitalism cannot function without a workforce that is willing to accept exploitation
what do marxists think education ensures
the working class pupils are slotted into and learn to accept poorly paying and alienating jobs
what does Paul Willis’ study show
working class pupils can resist attempts to indoctrinate them
what does Willis’ work help explain
why pupils reject school values and rules
what does Willis disagree with on Bowles ad Gintis ideas
that schools brainwash students into passively accepting their fate
what techniques did Willis use
qualitative research techniques
what synthesis did Willis achieve
a one between macro and micro analysis, structured and social action theory
whats Willis’ explanation seen as
Neo-Marxist theory on education
what was Willis’ study on
12 working class boys over their last 18 months at school and following them in the transition from school to work
where was Willis’ study carried out
the school was in the middle of a large working class housing estate in the West Midlands
What did Willis find of the 12 boys
they formed a distinctive friendship group w a particular attitude, leading to the development of a counter school subculture
What type of attitude did the 12 boys have in Willis experiment
Counter school subculture
What did the boys attitude oppose
School value
What did the 12 boys reject
Educational success
What did the 12 boys call the hardworking pupils
The ‘ear’oles’
What was the 12 boys main priority at school
Having a laugh, overcoming the boredom of school, as a way to gain status that school denied them
Why did Willis find the boys rejected educational qualifications
They knew they weren’t essential for work, they were irrelevant
What did Willis claim unlike to Bowles and Gintis
The boys weren’t submissive and weren’t shaped by education
What did Willis say their attitude meant
They were destined for low skilled jobs that capitalism needs to be performed Also destined to maintain their low class position
What did the boys anti school subculture help them accept
Inferior pay and conditions associated with work in a capitalist workforce
What does Willis claim the boys saw within the ed system
The ‘con trick’ of eduction and the ‘myth of meritocracy’
