role and purpose of education - marxism

What are the three main ideas Marxists have

• it’s part of the ideological state apparatus

• Teaches ruling class values

• Justifies and reproduces class inequality

What does ideological state apparatuses mean

An institution that promotes the ruling class ideology and the capitalist system

What does the superstructure consist of

Instsiutions that are influenced by the need to make profit

• media

• CJS

• Education

• Family

How is the CJS influenced to make a profit

They have the power to tell homeless people to move because it’s illegal and so that ensures they won’t be sleeping in front of shops so the public will still go in

How is the media influenced to make profit

They show ads in order to increase consumerism

How is the education system influenced to make profit

Students are taught to respect and listen to teachers which will be used in the workplace to increase efficiency

How is the family influenced to make profit

Children are taught to listen and respect parents which is further developed in education

What does the superstructure suggest about society

It is based on capitalism and institutions are used to keep this system

What does Marx argue this structure is for

• to get people to accept their place in life

• To stop the revolution through false class consciousness

Is Marx’s idea of a false class consciousness flawed

Yes because people have released they are exploited because many people have strikes e.g. train and bus drivers and doctors and teachers

Althusser

• ideological state apparatus

• Education is a microcosm

How is the education system a microcosm

Teachers are bourgeoisie and students are proletariat

What does hegemony mean

The education persuades the subordinate group to accept the beliefs and values

What does transmitting ideology mean

The working class is convinced by the education system that capitalism is fair for everyone

What are 3 ways we’ve been influenced that capitalism is positive through education

• learn respect and follow instructions

• Accept alienation from school work (boredom)

• Learn not to question authority

What does the myth of meritocracy mean

Education isn’t meritocratic it actually just benefits the middle class

Bowles and gintis

• correspondence principle

• School mirrors the workplace

Give examples of ways school mirrors the workplace

• uniform and dress code

• Punctuality

• Attendance

• Rewards and punishments

• Obedient

Give examples of ways school doesn’t mirror the workplace

• asking to go to the toilet

• Eating at set times

• Schools have longer holidays

• Work from home

What is the hidden curriculum

The values that are unofficially taught in education e.g. respect authority

Give examples of things on the hidden curriculum

• punctuality

• Respect

• Rewards for good behaviour

How does the correspondence principle link to parsons bridge

Both teach values that are accepted and desired for society

• CP says it enhances inequality

• PB says it benefits everyone equally

Bourdieu

• Cultural capital

• Middle class have better cultural capital

What is cultural capital

The middle class knowledge, attitudes and values that they pass on to their children

Why does bourdieu say the middle class have an advantage

• They are socialised in to the dominant culture

• They have the correct language codes

• They have the knowledge of how to act in education

Do the working class have cultural capital or deprivation

They have cultural deprivation because they can’t afford to go and get new knowledge and experiences e.g. going to museums on the weekend or art galleries

What does bourdieu say the function of education is

To reproduce the values, beliefs and acceptance of capitalism

Give some examples of cultural capital

• going to see art galleries if you study art

• Going to museums if you study history

How does reproducing the class system work

The middle class stay middle class because of their advantage e.g. cultural capital and the working class stay working class because of their cultural deprivation

Paul Willis

• ethnographic study

• The lads

• Anti school subculture

What is an ethnographic study

Observation and interviews

Why did the lads not perform well in school

They knew that no matter how hard they worked they wouldn’t achieve anything

How can Paul Willis criticise Marx

His study shows that the working class is very away of the myth of meritocracy and isn’t under a false class consciousness at all

How can you link Willis and Davi’s and Moore

David and Moore would say people like the lads are needed in education because we need people to fail so the working class jobs are filled

Criticisms of Marxism

• post modernists disagree and say that education produced diversity and not inequality

• they focus too much on economic inequality

• Some subjects do encourage us to think critically about society

How do post modernists argue that education produces diversity

The curriculum now includes lessons about all cultures due to the increase in diversity e.g. religion

Which subjects encourage students to think critically about society

Sociology