Role Of Education : Marxist

Question 1

Main function

Answer 1

Prevent revolution and maintain capitalism

Question 2

Althusser : ISA

Answer 2

repressive state apparatuses (rsa) — maintain the rule of the capitalist class by force or the threat of it

ideological state apparatuses (isa) — maintain the role of the capitalist class by controlling peoples ideas values and beliefs

Althusser argues that education system is an important ideological state apparatus, he claims it performs two functions: 
1. Education reproduces class inequality by transmitting it from generation to generation failing each successive generation of working class pupils.

2. Legitimising class inequality by producing ideologies that disguise its true cause, The function of ideology is to persuade workers to accept that inequality is inevitable & they deserve the subordinate position they’re in.

Question 3

Bowles and Gintis : Schooling in America

Answer 3

Bowles and Gintis conclude that schooling helps to produce the obedient workers that capitalism needs
— they do not believe that education fosters personal development and instead believe it stunts and distorts students development.

Question 4

The correspondence principle and hidden curriculum

Answer 4

There are closer parallels between school and work in capital of society
— both schools and workplaces are hierarchies with headteachers and bosses at the top making decisions, and workers and pupils at the bottom obeying.
— these parallels are referred to as examples of the correspondence principle the relationships and structures found in education mirror and correspond to those of work.
— the correspondence principle operates through the hidden curriculum (all the lessons are taught in school without being directly taught).
— schooling prepares working class pupils for their role as the exploited workers of the future reproducing the workforce capitalism needs and perpetuating class inequality from generation to generation.

Question 5

The myth of meritocracy

Answer 5

Meritocracy means everyone has an equal opportunity and rewards are based on ability and effort
— unlike functionalists, marxists argue that meritocracy does not exist, evidence shows the main factor in determining whether or not somebody has a high income is their family and class background.
— by disguising this fact the myth of meritocracy serves to justify the privileges of the higher classes making it seem that the game this rewards to succeeding in fair competition at school
— this helps persuade the working class to accept inequality as legitimate and makes it less likely that they will seek to overthrow capitalism. 

Question 6

Willis : learning to labour

Answer 6

All Marxist agree that capitalism cannot function without a workforce that is willing to accept exploitation
— as a Marxist, Willis is interested in the way schooling serves capitalism
— Willis argues working-class people can resist such attempts to indoctrinate them

Question 7

The lads counter culture

Answer 7

• Willis studies 12 working class boys as they made a transition from school to work
•  the lads form a distinct culture opposed to the school.
• define school boring and meaningless and flout its rules and values & they reject the meritocratic ideology.
• he notes the similarity between the anti-school counterculture & the shopfloor culture of male manual work.

The irony is that by helping them resist schools ideology, the counterculture ensures that they are destined for the unskilled work that capitalism needs someone to perform.

Question 8

Evaluation

Answer 8

— marxist disagree with one another about how reproduction and legitimisation take place. 
— critical modernists such as Carlos & Morrow criticise Marxist for taking a ‘class first’ approach that sees class as a key inequality and ignores all other.
— critics argue that with this account of the ‘lads’ romanticises them portrayes them as working class heroes.