EDUCATION - NEW RIGHT/NEOLIBERAL PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION

What do you remember about the New Right?

• disapproval of benefits

• prefer nuclear family (best for for society)

• benefits for married couples

• think young girls will sign on and get pregnant

• privatization of healthcare and education

• believes the welfare state are over generous

Is neoliberalism a party or an ideology?

Ideology

Do they believe the state should or shouldn't fund education, health and welfare?

They think they shouldn't

Neoliberalism is based on the idea that the state must not dictate how to dispose of their own property

What does property actually mean?

How people spent their money, how the operate

Do neoliberals believe the state should intervene or not?

Should not intervene

What do neoliberals believe about markets?

The government should not regulate the free market, the government should encourage private state-run businesses

Neoliberals believe schools should be more like businesses, how?

Empowering parents and pupils as consumers as using competition between schools to drive up standards

Why may running a school like a business be a problem?

In businesses, people tend to put up prices to increase profits, shareholders invest in hope to see a return - if prices have increased, business may not earn a profit and in theory the school would close (this damages the whole system)

Is the New Right a politically party or an ideology?

An ideology

What does the New Right think about the state and its influence?

They believe the state cannot meet people's needs and that people are best left to meet their own needs through the free market

What are the similarities between the New right and Functionalism?

• both believe some people are more naturally talented than others

• both favor an education system based on meritocratic principles

• both believe an education system should socialize pupils into shared values

Do the New Right believe the current education system is achieving goals?

Do Functionalists believe the current education system is achieving goals?

New Right - no

Functionalists - yes

What do the New Rigjt blame the failure of the education system on?

The fact the states runs schools

What approach does the New Right argue the states work with in education?

"One size fits all" - everyone is taught the same curriculum, everyone sits the same exams

Who are the local consumers in terms of education?

Pupils, parents and employers

How do the New Right believe the education system should be run?

They believe there should be an education market, creating competition between schools

Why do they think competition between schools will be a good thing?

As schools will compete for good grades

How will competition make schools perform better?

• in a competing market, there is more pressure

• students work harder

• gain better grades

• schools go up in league tables

• compete for students

How might schools be more competitive?

Try different teaching strategies, and offer more support for ALL students

How does schools being a competing market, benefit parents?

As their child will be getting a better education

Which 2 people came up with the idea of consumer choice?

Americans John Chubb and Terry Moe

What are some reasons Chubb and Moe believe state run eduction has failed?

• it has not created equal opportunity and has failed the needs of disadvantaged groups

• fails to produce pupils with the skills needed by the economy

What are some “skills” needed by the economy?

Interview skills, communication, problem solving, analytics skills

How much on average do parents pay for private school?

Around £20,000-£30,000 per term

What do Chubb and Moe base their arguments on?

60,000 pupils from low income families in 1015 state and private schools

Would this sample of 6000 pupils he valid, representative, generalizable?

Lacks validity - not with students

High in representativeness - larger sample size

Reliable - someone could redo the study

Generalizable - about wider population

What is it called when researcher use multiple methods and gain both types of data?

Triangulation

What are some ways that schools promote themselves through marketization?

• cola-isation

• cream skimming

• silt shifting

• sponsored by businesses

• Ofsted ratings

Do businesses tend to sponsor high or low achieving school?

Low - as this means they get a workforce in return

Where are Ofsted reports now being published?

On Rightmove

Who came up with parental choice?

Gerwitz

Based on findings, what does Chubb and Moe call the introduction for?

A market system in state education - be in the hands of the consumer (parents and local communities)

What is the name of the system Chubb and Moe propose?

Voucher system

What is a voucher system?

Each family is given a voucher to spend on buying education from a school of their choice

What is the funding called where it is based on the number of students it had?

Formula funding (eg. 1000 pupils, fundings for 1000 pupils)

If there is a voucher system, would there be more or less competition?

More - compete to attract “customers”

How would a voucher system improve the quality of schooling?

• schools are more competitive

• this would rises standards

• no school would be perfect - this reduces pressure

What is the downside of the voucher system?

• other schools may loose students - this loose funding

• transport can be an issue

• overcrowding

• lead to cream skimming

If some students end up in a school as no one else wants them, what may this lead to?

A self fulfilling prophecy - they don’t try anymore

Overall, would a voucher system create more or less inequality?

More inequality

What does the New Right believe the 2 roles of the state are?

1. The state imposes a framework on schools within which they compete (giving parents information for them to make a choice between schools)

2. The state ensures schools transmit a shared culture

Do the New Right believe the curriculum should emphasize British values?

Yes - the curriculum should emphasize British positive role in world history and teach British literature

What is this called where someone believe their culture is superior to others?

Assimilation

What religion does the New Right prefer?

Christianity

So does this mean the New Right would oppose multicultural education?

Yes - they oppose multicultural education that reflects the culture of different minority groups in Britain

Do the New Right want faith schools?

No - as they believe this creates more division

What is the argument for learning about other cultures?

There is no harm in learning about other peoples cultures

What are some pros and cons of multicultural education?

• learn the culture/respect in the country you are living in

• ethnocentrism - believe your own culture is superior

• could create nationalism (extreme excessive pride of your country)

• teach both sides (positive and negative) - colonization and British imperialism

What is an example of nationalism?

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