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