P1 Education - Marxists Flashcards
What do Marxists believe the role of education is?
They believe it reproduces class inequality of a capitalist society: fails the working class generation
It legitimises class inequality through myth of meritocracy: it makes people accept their inferior place in society as inevitable.
What did Louis Althussur (Marxism) believe?
Althussur argued that one of they key aims of education is the “reproduction of labour power”
How does Louis Althussur (Marxism) believe the reproduction of labour power is achieved?
- The reproduction of skills necessary for an efficient labour force
- The reproduction of ruling class ideology (through things like the hidden curriculum)
What is the ISA (Althussur)?
Ideological State Apparatuses consist of institutions such as the media, education system and religion. These work gradually to shape and maintain the way people think.
What is the hidden curriculum according to Marxists?
The organisation and lessons learned in school means working class people are encouraged to conform to the capitalist system and accept inequality.
What did Pierre Bourdieu (Marxism) argue about the role of education?
Pierre argued that the cultural attributes of the working class are rejected because the educational system is defined by and for the middle class.
What does Bowles and Gintis (Marxism) argue about the role of education?
They argued that the education system reproduces an obedient workforce that accepts inequality
What was Bowles and Gintis’s Correspondence Theory (Marxism)?
Schools correspond directly to a working environment. For example:
-Hierarchies (students and teachers)
-Lack of control
-Rewards external work (good behaviour)
-Competition and division
-Levelling / labelling
What’s the myth of meritocracy (Marxism)?
Individuals tend to blame themselves rather than the system for not being good in school and this legitimises inequality by creating the belief that it is fair.
What did Bowles and Gintis conclude (Marxism)?
-That the education system disguises inequalities (myth of meritocracy)
-It creates workers for a capitalist society
How does Brown (1997) disagree with Bowles and Gintis (Marxism)?
He argues that modern businesses require and prefer creative individuals who can work well with others. Exams do not encourage or develop this.
How does Willis(1977) disagree with Bowles and Gintis (Marxism)?
He argues that research on anti school subcultures suggest that students have little regard for the school rules.
“Laddish” behaviour is not the same behaviour needed for a capitalist society
