new right views of the role and purpose of education Flashcards
1
Q
what do neoliberals believe about education and the role of the government?
A
- neoliberalism is the idea that the government shouldn’t provide services like education, health, or welfare
- it says people should have control over their own property, and the government shouldn’t try to control the free-market economy
- instead, governments should promote competition, privatise state-owned businesses, and reduce market rules
- these ideas have influenced all UK governments since 1979, no matter which party was in power
- neoliberals think education is valuable if it helps the country compete in the global economy
- they believe schools should work like businesses, with parents and pupils as customers
- competition between schools is meant to raise standards
2
Q
what do the New Right believe about education and the role of the state?
A
- New Right is a conservative view that includes neoliberal economic ideas
- it believes the government can’t meet people’s needs well
- instead, people should meet their own needs through the free market
- because of this, the New Right supports turning education into a market (marketisation)
3
Q
what are similarities between New Right and functionalist views? what is a key difference with functionalism?
A
- both believe some people are naturally more talented than others
- both favour an education system run on meritocratic principles of open competition, and one that serves the needs of the economy by preparing young people for work
- both believed that education should socialise pupils into shared values eg competition, and instil sense of national identity
- however, unlike functionalists, the New Right believe the current education system is not meeting its goals
- they think this is because it is run by the state
4
Q
what do the New Right believe are the problems with state education systems?
A
- New Right argue that state education takes a “one size fits all” approach and ignores local needs
- parents, pupils, and employers have no say in how schools are run
- this makes state education unresponsive and inefficient
- schools that perform poorly aren’t held accountable.
- as a result, pupil achievement drops, the workforce is less skilled, and the economy suffers
5
Q
what solution do the New Right propose for the problems in state education?
A
- New Right’s solution is marketisation, or creating an “education market”
- they believe competition between schools and empowering consumers (pupils, parents, and employers) will lead to more choice, diversity, and efficiency
- this will help schools better meet the needs of pupils, parents, and employers
6
Q
what are the main criticisms of state-run education according to Chubb and Moe in their New Right perspective?
A
- state-run education fails to create equal opportunity and meet the needs of disadvantaged groups
- it is inefficient and doesnt equip students with the skills needed by the economy
- private schools offer higher quality education because they are accountable to paying consumers (parents)
7
Q
what evidence do Chubb and Moe (1990) provide to support their argument for private schools over state schools?
A
- study comparing 60,000 pupils from low-income families in 1,015 state and private high schools
- findings show students from low-income families perform about 5% better in private schools than in state schools.
- parent survey and case studies of “failing” schools being “turned around”
- they are calling for a market system in state education, giving control to consumers (parents and local communities).
- argue this would allow schools to be shaped to meet consumer needs, improving quality and efficiency
8
Q
how do Chubb and Moe propose introducing a market system into state education?
A
- Chubb and Moe propose a voucher system where each family receives a voucher to spend on education at the school of their choice
- schools would become more responsive to parents’ wishes because vouchers would be their main source of income
- schools would compete to attract ‘customers’ by improving their ‘product’
- they argue that these market forces, already present in the private sector, would greatly improve educational standards in the state sector
9
Q
what are the two main roles the government plays in education according to the New Right?
A
- New Right believes that while the market should play a big role in education, the government still has two important jobs:
1) the government sets up a framework that make schools compete. eg, it shares reports on how schools are doing, like exam results and inspections (ofsted and league tables) so that parents can choose the best school for their children.
2) the government makes sure that all schools teach the same basic subjects and values (shared culture) by having a National Curriculum. this helps schools teach students about the same cultural traditions and beliefs
10
Q
why do the New Right believe education should affirm the national identity?
A
- New Right believes education should promote Britain’s national identity
- curriculum should highlight Britain’s positive role in world history and include British literature
- there should be a daily Christian act of worship in schools because Christianity is Britain’s main religion
- aim is to integrate students into a shared set of traditions and cultural values
- New Right opposes multicultural education because it reflects the cultures of minority groups, which they feel distracts from the national identity
11
Q
what were the main changes introduced by the Education Reform Act of 1988, and how did they encourage competition among schools?
A
- Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher used New Right ideas to shape the Education Reform Act of 1988
- the act introduced several important changes:
- the National Curriculum: all students had to learn the same subjects at the same time
- SATs tests and GCSEs: standardised testing to assess student performance
- league tables: schools were ranked based on their exam results
- more choices for parents: parents could choose which schools to send their children to
- budgeting powers for headteachers: school leaders had more control over how money was spent
- funding per pupil: schools received funding based on the number of students they had
- these changes created a system where, in theory, parents could choose (parental choice) the best schools using information like exam results, and schools competed with each other to attract students and funding
- this encouraged schools to focus on achieving good exam results
12
Q
weakness: Gewirtz and Ball
A
- both argue competition between schools benefits mc who can use cultural and economic capital to gain access to more desirable schools
13
Q
weakness: real cause of low educational standards
A
- critics argue real cause of low educational standards is not state control but social inequality and inadequate funding of state schools
14
Q
weakness: contradiction
A
- contradiction between New Right’s support for parental choice on one hand and state imposing compulsory national curriculum on all its schools on the other hand
15
Q
weakness: Marxist
A
- argue education doesn’t impose shared national culture, as the New Right claim
- but imposes culture of a dominant minority ruling class and devalue culture of wc and ethnic minorities
16
Q
contemporary:
A
- conservative education manifesto (2024): policies include protecting per-pupil funding, banning mobile phones, expanding academy trusts, and giving parents more control over what their children are taught—reflecting emphasis on standards, discipline, and parental choice.
- reform uk and cultural issues: reform uk has focused on banning mobile phones and limiting gender identity education, showing alignment with traditional values and opposition to progressive educational agendas.
- conservative stance on university degrees: proposals to shut down “rip-off degrees” with high dropouts or poor job outcomes reflect a market-based view of education focused on value for money and accountability.
