new right perspective on education

what are it’s similarities to functionalism

• some people are more naturally talented than others

• favours the meritocratic system

• education should socialise us into shared values and national identity

what is different from the functionalist view

• believes the education system fails to do the things they want as it’s run by the state

• consumers have no say which makes state education inefficient and unresponsive

what do they argue would fix education

marketisation

• competition between schools and empowering consumers will give us more diversity, choice and efficiency in schools

• they would have an increased ability to meet the needs of all consumers

what do they say about consumer choice

Chubb and Moe

• propose a voucher system where patents ‘shop’ for a school to give their voucher too

• this would force schools to listen to consumer wants and therefore raise standards (parentocracy- ran/influenced by parents)

• schools would compete to attract customers and it would be a source of income

what are the two roles of the state

• the state imposing a framework that schools compete in e.g. OFSTED

• the state ensures schools have a shared culture which is passed on (1 curriculum = 1 cultural heritage)

what is the eval of the new right

• Ball- competition between schools only benefits the MC because they can access better schools using their cultural and economic capital

• the real cause of lower education standards is lack of funding, not state control

• new right contradiction- they support parental choice but also want compulsory national curriculum

• marxists- there is no shared culture in education as the ruling class culture devalues the culture of WC and ethnic minorities