The New Right Perspective On Education Flashcards
A more political than sociological perspective. However, the New Right is of interest to sociologists because…
- it’s a more recent conservative view than functionalism
* has influenced educational policy in Britain and elsewhere
Functionalism and the New Right compared/similarities
New Right ideas are similar to those of functionalists:
•they believe that some people are naturally more talented than others
•agree with functionalists that education should be run on meritocratic principles of open competition
•belive that education should socialise students into shared values and provide a sense of national identity
•the New Right believe that older industrial societies such as Britain are in decline, partly as a result of increased global competition
The market versus the state - the effects of state control
a key feature of New Right thinking is that too much state control of education has resulted in inefficiency, national economic decline and a lack of personal and business initiative. A culture of welfare dependency has developed, the cost of which has reduced investment in industry
The market versus the state - one-size fits all
-New Right arguments are based on the belief that the state cannot meet people’s needs. in a state-run education system, education inevitably ends up as ‘one size fits all’ that does not meet individual and community needs, or the needs of employers for skilled and motivated employees
The market versus the state - lower standards
-state run schools are not accountable to those who use them - students, parents and employers. schools that get poor results do not change because they are not answerable to their customers. The result is lower standards and a less qualified workforce
Marketisation - def
the introduction of market forces of consumer choice and competition between suppliers (schools) into areas run by the state ( such as education and health)
The New Right - marketisation
argue that creating an education market forces schools to respond to the demands of students, parents and employers. For example, competition with other schools means that teachers have to be more efficient. A school’s survival depends on its ability to raise the achievement levels of its students
Chubb and Moe
-comared the achievement of 6000 students from low-income families in 1015 state and private high schools in the USA
•data showed students from low income families do 5% better in private schools which suggests state education is not meritocratic
•state education has failed to create equal opportunity because it does not have to respond to students needs. Parents can’t do anything about failing schools while the schools are controlled by the state. Private schools produce higher quality education because they are answerable to paying consumers (the parents)
Chubb and Moe - market system
- Chubb and Moe’s solution to inefficiency of state schools is to introduce a market system in state education
- give control to consumers (parents and local communities)
- this should be done by a voucher system in which each family would be given a voucher to spend on buying education from a school of their choice
Gerwitz
-argues that low standards in some state schools are the result of inadequate funding rather than state control of education
Marxists critique of the New Right education theory
-argue that education imposes the culture of a ruling class not a shared culture or national identity as the New Right claim
