Neoliberalism and the NR perspective Flashcards
NL view on the role of education
Education is only valuable so long as it allows the country to compete in the global marketplace, which is only possible if schools become more like businesses where competition can improve standards
NR view on state education systems
Takes a 1 size fits all approach which imposes uniformity and disregards local needs, consumers (parents and pupils) have no say making SES’s unresponsive and inefficient as they do not answer to consumers even if they do poorly
Chubb and Moe
State-run education has failed as:
It does not accommodate the needs of disadvantaged groups
Inefficient as it fails to produce pupils with necessary skills to help the economy
Chubb and Moe study
60000 low-income pupils in 1015 state and private schools showed that pupils from low-income families do 5% better in private than state schools
Chubb and Moe marketisation
Each family gets a voucher to spend on education. Forces schools to become more responsive as vouchers are the primary source of income and schools would compete to attract more pupils which improves quality.
Two roles for the state
- Imposing a framework on schools within which they must compete i.e. publishing Ofsted reports and league tables to allow parents more informed decisions
- Ensuring that a shared culture is transmitted through the teaching of the national curriculum
Evaluation of competition between schools
Ball argues that it benefits the middle class who can use cultural and economic capital to get into better schools
Critics argue that the real cause of low educational standards is not state control but
Social inequality and inadequate funding of state schools
How does the NR contradict itself
By advocating parental choice but also wanting a compulsory national curriculum in all schools
Marxist criticism
Education does not impose a shared culture but imposes the culture of the dominant minority ruling class
