A-level sociology eduction

what is the butler act?

an act that made schools open to everyone

what is the tripartite system?

grammar schools, secondary modern and technical

what were grammar schools?

10-14 education where you would have to pass an 11+ and get 90% to get in. however boys only had to pass 10%

what were secondary modern schools?

a school where majority of pupils attended

what were technical schools?

schools for people who were good at technical skills like being a builder, plumber etc

what was the comprehensive system?

in 1965 a school was opened to everyone, where they did not select students based on their academic ability

what was the education reform act?

all schools had to teach the same core curriculum

what is the functionalist theory on education?

functionalists have a positive consensus view about society and the education system. they believed that each part of society performs functions that help them to maintain as a whole

what was parsons view on education?

Parson argues that schools are meritocratic (where students who worked harder would succeed)

what is the functionalist view on education?

functionalists viewed education as serving the needs of society and preparing students for later roles in the outside world

what did Davis ands Moore believe the role of education was?

they believed that education was a system for selection and role allocation. they believed that inequality is necessary so that important roles in society are filled by the most talented people

what was Durkheim's view on education?

he believed that education teaches norms and values as well as skills needed for individuals to play their part in society so that it can function properly

what is the Marxist view on education?

they believed that education was a tool for the bourgeoisie so that they are able to maintain a capitalist dominated society

what did Althusser say about education?

he believed that education legitimates and reproduces social inequality. He also believed that it was an ideological state apparatus that passes on the ideologies of the capitalist ruling class

what does RSA stand for and what does it mean?

it stands for Repressive State Apparatus. it is when the ruling class maintains by force; this includes police, army etc

what does ISA stand for and what does it mean?

it stands for Ideological State Apparatus. it is when the ruling class maintains dominance by controlling ideas, values and beliefs; this includes religion, media, education system etc

what does it mean when in inequality is legitimated?

it means that people are encouraged to accept their position in society and not challenge the system

what does it mean when inequality is reproduced?

it means that roles are transmitted from one generation to another. eg working class children are ultimately failed

what was Bowles and Gintis' view on education?

they suggested that education mirrors the workplace and it prepared pupils for life in the capitalist system and prevented rebellion or revolution

What was Bowles and Gintis' study?

they studied 237 New York high school students and found that students who showed independence and creativity got low grades. They also discovered that education does not support student development and that they reward behaviours and personality traits that make a submissive worker

What is the correspondence principle?

the idea that school mirrors the workplace in order to create an obedient, proletariat workforce

What is the hidden curriculum?

informal lessons learnt without being taught

What is the myth of meritocracy?

the idea that meritocracy does not exist and that income and class background determines success, not effort or talent

What is the 'poor are dumb' theory?

where poverty is blamed on the individual rather than capitalism