Social Democratic View on Education Flashcards
What is the social Democratic approach influenced by?
the ‘Human capital’ theory
What is the ‘Human capital’ theory?
Claims that investment in humans through education and training acts very much like investment in new machinery. Just as new machines may be able to produce a higher quantity of better quality products, so better educated people will create more wealth and product though their work
What did social democrats believe about education
They believe that education should be a basic and universal human right and it has the potential to turn individuals into well-rounded and tolerant human beings.
What did social democrats say about education being freely available to everyone
Equality of opportunity is a key social democratic ideal as is the idea of meritocracy, that people should be awarded based on merit.
What does Halsey argue
That educational opportunity should be freely available to all social classes and that it is wrong that the children of the wealthy should be advantaged. They argue that social-class disadvantages in the British education system result in a massive wastage of working-class talent.
What educational policy did social democrats influence
The introduction of comprehensive schools in the 1960s and the expansion of higher education in the 2000s
How do marxist criticise the social democratic view on education
They say it fails to recognise that educational inequalities are the product of the organisation of capitalism. Marxists believe that the reforms of the educational system recommended by social democrats will not be successful unless capitalism is replaces.
How do New right criticise the social democratic view on education
They criticise the focus on education being available to all. New right believe that educational inequality is a natural outcome of competition and that government policies should focus on raising standard of teaching and learning for all children.
What does Wolf question about the social democratic view that spending more on education will lead to economic growth
She argues that education is merely a device for employers to screen and select people but there is little evidence that greater spending on education in the UK has lead to greater economic growth. She argues the UK is over-educating and producing too many undergraduates.
Does the social democratic approach have contemporary relevance and why
Yes
Because in the context of the privatisation and marketisation of education encouraged by the New right. Social democrats critique the New right and point out that only middle-class families will be able to make the most of an educational system based on parental choice.
What is some evidence that criticises the social democratic view on education
That the academic success of the 7 per cent of pupils who are privately educated undermines the concept of equality of opportunity.
