role of education-social democrats

vocationalism

• role= teach skills relevant for work, benefits students in workplace 

eval: buswell- girls pushed into vocational courses- 5c’s 

Davies and Biesta- reinforce capitalism and exploit workers 

wastage of ability

role= ensure barriers preventing achievement are removed

• Halsey: Opps for school should be offered to all, not just m/c

• policies to close gap, e.g. EMA

eval: Walford- gap between w/c and m/c grew, policies later scrapped by coalition gov- waste money

investment in education to benefit the economy

role= contribute to a successful economy

• support spending on education due to being key to producing key workers

• e.g. expanding higher education- aim ½ school leavers attending uni

eval: wolf- sceptical that increase in gov spending leads to improvement in equality

equality of opportunity

role= provide equality of opportunity (opportunities for all to succeed)

• believe in meritocracy, but its not offered in schools yet

• Halsey: remains an idea, not a reality

eval: Bowles and Gintis- meritocracy is a myth