role of education- marxism Flashcards
what kind of theory is marxism
conflict theory
what are the three functions of education systems according to marxism
reproduces class inequality- m.c are more likely to succeed and get better jobs than w.c
legitimises class inequality- myth of meritocracy makes w.c people believe that their societal position is inevitable
benefits capitalism- prepares next generation of exploited workers who accept authorty and wage labour
how is the class inequality reproduced
m/c parents use material and cultural capital to ensure children get into best schools and achieve better. they then get m.c jobs.
where as w.c. children are more likely to have poor education and work for the middle class.
reproducing class inequality
how is class inequality is legitmised
marxists say that schools spread the myth of meritocracy. where w.c. people believe you have to work hard for a high societal position
therefore when they are stuck in a low societal position, they think it is their fault and their position is inevitable.
when its not, the system just favours m.c.
how does legitimising class inequality prevent working class rebellion
if the w.c. believe that they had a fair chance of a high societal position (e..g better job, money)
there is less chance they will rebel to change society
what sociologists believe the myth of meritocracy
bowles and gintis
why do m.c. have an advantage over w.c
their parents have economic and cultural capital
advantage in school and job applications.
what is meritocracy
everyone has equal opportunites, as a good job and qualifications rely on the effort of the individual
w.c. blame themself for their failures, not the inequality of the education system
what experiment did bowles and gintis to to measure the relationship between iq and education achievement
sample of different people with different iqs
there was a wide variety of educational achievement and there was no relationship between educational achievement and iq
there was a bigger relationship between class and achievement
education justifies privelegeand attributes poverty to personal failure.
what sociologists do bowles and gintis criticise
functionalist- they say school isnt meritocratic
how does the education system perform functions for the bourgeoisie
prepares a hardworking workforce who accepts authority who wont know they are being exploited
what is the correspondence principle
this principle says that the norms and values pupils learn in schools, are the norms and values which will make them a good worker to exploit at work
replicated workplace
school- motivated by high grade
work- motivated by wages
authority heirarchy in both school and work
what are the evaluations of marxist role of education
too deterministic, argues that w.c. pupils are not entirely molded by capitalism, they can reject the values they are taught
education can harm the bourgeois, many left wing marxists are university educated
correspondence principle isnt applicable in todays labour market, workers need to be able to think, not passive and obedient
what culture does the education system pass as inferior
working class culture
who made the ideological state apparatus theory and what is it
althusser
education system controls pupils by teaching them values and norms which justifies privelege and capitalism
it also produces a obedient workforce
what is the hidden curriculum
norms and values taught indirectly to pupils in the education system.
children have to accept the values and norms or they are punished
prepares them for the exploitation at work.
- uniform
- punctuality
- acceptance of authority
