Marxist Approach

what is an ideological state apparatus (isa) according to marxists?

a social institution e.g. education that maintains bourgeoisie power by reproducing and justifying inequality.

how does education function as an isa?

by reproducing class inequality and presenting it as fair and natural, ensuring continued capitalist control.

what are the main ways education reproduces inequality?

• unequal access to resources

• an ethnocentric curriculum that does not reflect diversity

• the hidden curriculum, transmitting dominant norms and values.

what is meant by the hidden curriculum?

unofficial lessons taught in schools, such as norms, values, and expected behaviours that support the existing social system.

what do marxists argue about specialised skills in education?

education teaches specialised skills based on class position, meaning individuals are prepared for roles that reflect their social class background.

what does it mean that talents are 'predetermined' by social class?

students are labelled and shaped by their class background, limiting opportunities and reinforcing existing inequalities.

what is a criticism of the marxist view on specialised skills?

it is too deterministic, as it ignores individuals who overcome class barriers and achieve social mobility.

how do feminists criticise the marxist view of education?

they argue marxism ignores gender inequality, such as the glass ceiling, which affects social mobility.

what do marxists argue about meritocracy?

they argue meritocracy is a myth, as not everyone has equal opportunities due to class inequalities.

how does social class affect educational success, according to marxists?

the higher a person's social class, the more likely they are to achieve better grades and access better jobs.

give an example of how working-class students are disadvantaged?

90% of failing OFSTED schools are in deprived areas, leading to issues like poor teacher recruitment (e.g. non specialists teaching subjects), disadvantaging students.

what is the correspondence principle?

it states that school mirrors the workplace, preparing students for their future roles in capitalist society.

how does the hidden curriculum link to the correspondence principle?

the hidden curriculum teaches students to be passive and obedient, mirroring expectations in the workplace.

what behaviours do schools encourage according to bowles and gintis?

schools encourage obedience, passivity, and respect for authority, which prepares students for exploitation in work.

how does school structure reflect the workplace?

schools mirror workplace features such as hierarchy, division of labour, and competition.

what is meant by 'false consciousness" in education?

when students believe education benefits them, when it actually serves capitalism and the ruling class.

what do marxists mean by indoctrination in education?

the process where students are 'brainwashed' into accepting capitalist values and becoming compliant workers.

how are students exploited in education?

through things like intervention sessions, which use students' time under the guise of helping them, but actually serve school/system targets.

why are students described as passive?

students are socialised to not question authority, limiting independent thinking and reinforcing control.

what does chomsky argue about the education system?

education acts as a filtering system, where the most compliant students succeed and help maintain bourgeoisie power.

what happens to less compliant students according to chomsky?

they may internalise failure, and end up in low-paid, 'dead-end' jobs.

what did paul willis argue about education?

he argued that some students actively resist education, showing they are not simply brainwashed.

what limitation is there to bowles and gintis' research?

it is not representative, as it was based on a small sample of american high schools in 1970s.

what are the strengths of the marxist view of education?

• exposes the myth of meritocracy

• highlights how education legitimises capitalism.

• inspired further research into class, gender, and ethnicity inequalities.

how does marxism explain the myth of meritocracy?

it argues meritocracy is used to justify inequality, making working-class individuals accept their position.

what is a key weakness of marxism regarding inequality?

marxists disagree on how inequality is created, showing a lack of consensus.

what is the difference between bowles & gintis and willis?

• b&g: top down, deterministic- students are passive.

• willis: bottom up- students have agency and can resist.

what is a limitation of willis' study?

it excluded girls, limiting its applicability?

why is marxism criticised as a 'class-first' approach?

it focuses mainly on class inequality, ignoring other factors like gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.