Theorists on Education Flashcards
1
Q
Durkheim
A
- Functionalist
- Schools should promote meritocracy
- Education leads to value consensus
- The education system is where secondary socialisation takes place
2
Q
Parsons
A
- Functionalist
- Education is the bridge between family & wider society
- Meritocracy becomes a norm for students
- Education teaches universalistic standards
3
Q
Davis & Moore
A
- Functionalist
- Meritocracy facilitates role allocation
- Education “sifts and sorts” people into their appropriate jobs based on likely future roles
4
Q
Althausser
A
- Marxist
- Education is an ‘Ideological State Apparatus’
- The education system teaches capitalist values by presenting them as common values
5
Q
Bourdieu
A
- Marxist
- The education system tricks the working class into accepting their failure and limited social mobility are justified. (False class consciousness)
- Culture capital: The education system values a culture of upper and middle class students
6
Q
Bowles & Gintis
A
- Marxist
- The ‘Correspondence’ Principle is achieved through the hidden curriculum
7
Q
Willis
A
- Neo-Marxist
- Working class “lads” rebel in school as a coping mechanism for oppressive middle class institutions. (Having a laff)
- “learning to labour” - Pupils are taught specialist skills to help for a life in the submissive workforce.
8
Q
Giroux
A
- Neo-Marxist
- The curriculum/hidden curriculum is not always accepted (Criticism of Bowles & Gintis)
- Rebellion/rejection of this system reproduces class inequalities
- Functionalists and marxists exaggerate conformity
9
Q
Halsey & Floud
A
- Social Democrats
- Education is not automatically meritocratic but has the potential to be
- Comprehensives mean that middle-class students cannot gain an advantage by going to selective state schools
- Some places in higher education can be reserved for working class students
10
Q
Chubb & Moe
A
- New Right
- State education is unresponsive to students and parents needs leading to lower standards
- Private education is more dynamic as there is a need to “please customers”
11
Q
Criticisms of Durkheim
A
- Ignorant of certain aspects of education
- Assumes too much - Socialisation is not evident in every pupil (Ignores other family types)
12
Q
Criticisms of New Right
A
- Competition creates stress on students
- The stress of school improvement affects schools
13
Q
Criticisms of Functionalism
A
- Meritocracy ignores how social divisions might affect achievement
- Private schools are ignored. Social class impacts educational achievement
14
Q
Whitty, Power & Sims
A
- Students from Private Schools are more likely to get accepted into top universities with lower grades
- Criticises Durkheim
15
Q
False class consciousness
A
The education system tricks the working class into accepting their failure and limited social mobility are justified
16
Q
Marxism
A
- Inequalities in society are reproduced in capitalist societies
- Working-class children are left behind and end up with menial jobs, while the wealthy have elite education or at least are at a cultural advantage
17
Q
Heaton & Lawson
A
- Feminists
- The education system reproduces patriarchy through established norms through the hidden curriculum
18
Q
Criticisms of Feminism
A
- Education is a female dominated sector
- Girls consistency out-perform boys in the system
19
Q
Criticisms of Conflict Theories
A
- Everyone can technically achieve, no matter their starting point
- Everyone has the same experience once at university
20
Q
Criticisms of Marxism
A
- Focuses too much on class equality and not enough on gender or race
- The correspondence principle is dated. Todays work requires teamwork (Brown)
- Not all education is anti-critical thinking. (e.g. Sociology)
21
Q
Smith & Noble
A
- “Barriers to Learning”
- Low income leads to little room to learn and access resources
- Marketisation of schools has led to higher house pricing near “good schools”.
22
Q
Washbrook & Waldfogel
A
- “31% of the differences in scores of 5 year olds in vocab tests can be explained by material disadvantage (e.g. less books in the house/ not read to)
23
Q
Hirsh
A
- High cost of uni means that some students can’t attend the most prestigious institutions
- ‘Better off’ students have advantages:
. Structured activities that builds confidence, life skills,
cultural literacy
. More space at home
24
Q
Criticisms of Feminism
A
- Education is a female dominated sector
- Girls consistently out-perform boys in the system
25
Sugarman
- Instant gratification vs. delayed gratification
26
Liberal Feminists
- Introducing more opportunities for women will result in more equality
27
Marxist Feminists
- Women are exploited by capitalist societies - which are run by men
28
Radical Feminists
- Society is structured to oppress women, society needs immediate change
29
Lockwood
- Middle class is likely to believe in meritocracy whereas the working class believe its all down to luck
30
Feinstein
- Culture is more important than material
. How often children are read to
. Quality of childtime
. Parents attitudes to the education system
31
Bernstein
- Marxist
| - Restricted vs. elaborated codes
32
Hargreaves
- Interactionist
| - Teachers label students based on personalities. Middle class behaviour is most likely to be 'ideal' for teachers
33
Ball
- Working class students are more likely to be in lower sets even
34
Ideological State Apparatus
Institutions spread their bourgeois ideology so that the proletariat maintain power (false class consciousness)
35
The 'Correspondence' Principle
Education prepares kids to take their place as part of a hard working, docile and obedient workforce
36
"Barriers to Learning"
Isolation and stigmatizing, usually working-class kids, that can come from no access to uniforms, trips and equipment
37
Hidden Curriculum
Values that are learnt but not intended to be taught. (e.g. Male hegemony in sports)
