postmodernist views on education

Question 1

what is postmodernism

Answer 1

a structure-action theory - emphasises the freedom of the individual - students should be free to choose their own style of learning

Question 2

what is the world characterised by

Answer 2

post-fordism

careers are generally within the service-sector

education therefore should reflect this, rather than preparing students for a fordist system

Question 3

four key features

Answer 3

consumer society
cultural diversity and hybridity
society is fragmented
hyperreality and media-saturation

Question 4

how do they argue consumer society

Answer 4

difference between the post-modern society and modern society is that our society is consumer oriented rather than work oriented

consuming things, and leisure activities are more important today than work

pick and mix society - individuals today are free to pick their lifestyle and life course - wide range of options

Question 5

the impact on education - consumer society - modern

Answer 5

uniformity of types of schools
1944 - secondary modern/grammar/few technical
1965 - comprehensives with a few grammars

Question 6

the impact on education - consumer society - post-modern

Answer 6

large choice of type of school to attend - comprehensive schools/specialist schools/ faith schools/academies

privatisation & commodification of schools eg exam boards are private companies

Question 7

How would marxists evaluate consumerism

Answer 7

it justifies privilege

middle class - have an advantage over the working class as they have cultural and social capital which allows them to have added choice over the education they receive

poverty causes failure

Stephen Ball - selection by mortgage

middle-class have more choice so consumerism within education not relevant for the lower class

Question 8

How would marxism evaluate consumerism with meritocracy

Answer 8

the middle class are able to pay for private schools which deliver a higher quality of education - students have greater choice in further education eg places at top unis and places at best jobs

working class don’t have this - low performing schools

Question 9

how do postmodernists argue diversity and hybridity

Answer 9

world characterised by cultural diversity and hybridity - mixing of different cultural tradition

increase in diversity of social and cultural forms:

good and services, fashion and music

Question 10

impact on modern education - diversity and hybridity

Answer 10

education was run only in a national context
the national curriculum focused just on what Britain needed, no emphasis on languages/IT

more focused skills for production lines to work within British Industries. School funded a ‘one size fit all’ approach to education and funds school alone

Question 11

impact on post-modern education - diversity and hybridity

Answer 11

education is much more complex due to globalisation

now more types of schools eg faith schools embrace diversity - schools under more societal pressure to be as inclusive as possible

students now preparing to become global workers so education is focused on skills to develop in international league tables such as PISA

Question 12

How would functionalists argue against diversity

Answer 12

believe the education system should create individuals with a sense of loyalty and commitment to their society rather than global societies

UK government - British values in curriculum and school life to create value consensus

globalisation - threatening nationalism and value consensus as children taught less about the UK

Question 13

how would the new right evaluate diversity

Answer 13

criticise relevance of globalisation as national curriculum still has more impact on what is being taught in school

strong emphasis on British history and core subjects such as maths and english - languages not used in UK school league tables

Question 14

how do postmodernists argue about a fragmented society

Answer 14

the pace of change is much more rapid than in modern society

post-modern society is more dynamic and fluid

post-modern society doesn’t sit still and as a result, lacks any coherent, stable social structure

Question 15

work in fragmented society

Answer 15

‘job for life’ - no longer a thing

‘portfolio worker’ more likely to move jobs and change career several times throughout their working life

working life is also characterised by much more uncertainty as businesses are quick to move to other region or countries if they can find cheaper labour

Question 16

breakdown of local communities - fragmented society

Answer 16

increased flexibility of labour associated with the world of work means people move more often in their lifetimes, meaning that people are much less able to put down stable roots in their local communities

led to decline in social capital - Robert Putnam

Question 17

impact on modern education - fragmentation

Answer 17

education stops when people leave school - fordism

Question 18

impact on post-modern education

Answer 18

people can return to education at any stage of their lives - eg adult education - post-fordism

for example, open university allows adults to study for degrees at home, which works for portfolio workers

Mixing and matching of different subjects/courses eg Alevel and BTECS

Question 19

how would functionalists evaluate fragmentation

Answer 19

Davis and Moore
role allocation as a result of exams and qualifications - more influence as it limits choice

results students receives in exams have control over the subjects they are able to study, the universities they can attend and ultimately the job that they are able to get

limits fluidity that is present within society

fragmentation only relevant for the academically able

Question 20

how would marxists evaluate fragmentation

Answer 20

Class still has a strong influence on the choices a person can make
Louis Althusser - education is an ideology state apparatus
Bourdeiu - working class are dubbed into accepting their educational failure and lack of social mobility within society

contradicts the idea that everyone has fluidity and choice within education

education system is argued to reproduce the upper class culture whilst rejecting working class culture

Question 21

how do postmodernists argue a hyperreal society

Answer 21

huge expansion in media technology - rise in digital media - internet - massive increase in people using media

huge increase in diversity of media products - creating music, videos, profiles, greater interactivity and more flexibility

Question 22

what is the consequence of a hyperreal society

Answer 22

our society has an increased reliance on the media to tell us what is going on in the world

some sociologists argue that media creates ‘hyper reality’ - where what they see in the media is different yet more real than reality

Baudrillard - media coverage of war for example is different to reality, yet is the only reality most of us know

Question 23

impact on modern education - media

Answer 23

education was teacher-led

Question 24

impact of post-modern society - media

Answer 24

there should be more use of IT in education eg blogs, twitter pages, youtube, vlogs

provision of online courses and games within learning

rise of creative subjects in the arts eg media studies

learning by discovery - collaborative approach to learning

the rise in digital learning during the 2020 and 2021 national lockdowns showed the uses of technology in teaching

Question 25

how would marxists argue against media-saturation

Answer 25

only the middle and upper class would have access to the media, as technology is still expensive causing the working class to be at a disadvantage within the education system

media-saturation is less relevant, compared to the class system

Question 26

how would functionalists evaluate media-saturation

Answer 26

rise in digital education can create a lack of value consensus as socialisation may not occur due to the removal of a classroom environment

this causes students to not form the ideas of societal norms and values which contradicts the functionalist belief that school should socialise students into being committed and loyal to society

Question 27

positive evaluations of postmodernism

Answer 27

increase in diversity and choice within the education system eg over the last 6 years there has been a 65% increase in number of children in home education - this is evidence of customising education for individual need

there is evidence of the education system already responding to postmodern society eg greater consumerism within education system

Question 28

limitations of post modernism

Answer 28

formal education and qualifications are advantageous to society as a whole - well developed education systems based on qualifications and grades are correlated with a more developed economy and society but it’s not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship

home-education is generally only an option for the already educated so there is no equality of opportunity