Marxists Views of Education

Question 1

How does education reproduce class inequality according to Althusser?

Answer 1

By passing the ruling class ideas and values to each generation of the subject class keeping them in a state of false class consciousness

Question 2

How does education legitimise class inequality according to Althusser?

Answer 2

By persuading the subject class their exploitation is inevitable meaning the SC are less likely to challenge capitalism

Question 3

What do Bowles and Gintis argue the main role of education in a capitalist society is?

Answer 3

To reproduce an obedient, passive, and hard-working worker who accepts their position without question

Question 4

How does education reproduce these types of workers according to Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 4

Through the correspondence principle where school mirrors the workplace

Question 5

How does school mirror the workplace according to Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 5

They reward the same behaviour and personality characteristics that are valued by capitalism

Question 6

Give examples of how school mirrors the workplace

Answer 6

Uniform - expected to wear a uniform at school and follow certain rules surrounding it

Hierarchies - school teaches us that teachers and other staff are above us in hierarchy and you are expected to do what they ask of you which mirrors the workplace

Timetables - teaches us to be on time and we are expected to follow our timetable and be punctual

Question 7

What is the hidden curriculum according to Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 7

The message pupils learn at school without being formally taught

Question 8

What is meritocracy?

Answer 8

Where something is fair and everyone has an equal chance of success

Question 9

Why do Bowles and Gintis think meritocracy is a myth?

Answer 9

Because achievement is determined by a students social class background not their ability

Question 10

Why do the myth of meritocracy help keep the subject class in a false class consciousness?

Answer 10

Because schools want the working-class students to think education is fair and meritocratic so they don’t challenge capitalism

Question 11

Why does the myth of meritocracy reproduce social class inequality?

Answer 11

The middle class succeed in school and go on to get the high status jobs which is passed on when they have children

Question 12

Why does the myth of meritocracy legitimise social class inequality?

Answer 12

It implies that it is the students’ fault for not succeeding in school and they therefore don’t get the high-status jobs

Question 13

Why does the myth of meritocracy benefit capitalism?

Answer 13

The subject class remain in false class consciousness and therefore don’t try to overthrow the ruling class/capitalism

Question 14

What did the lads reject?

Answer 14

Education

Question 15

Why are the values of education opposed by the lads?

Answer 15

Because they resent authority and hierarchy and believe that the teachers have no authority to be telling them what to do

Question 16

Why is it important that the lads completely reject the idea of qualifications?

Answer 16

Because they think that it is possible to get on without qualifications because what really matters is knowing a bit about the world

Question 17

Why does Willis criticise Bowles and Gintis’s view of education?

Answer 17

He believes that education isn’t fair and their success isn’t determined by their effort but by their social class

Question 18

Why does Willis agree with Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 18

Because their rejection of school and qualifications prepared them for working-class jobs

Question 19

What is habitus?

Answer 19

The cultural framework and set of ideas which influence tastes and choices

Question 20

What is the habitus of education?

Answer 20

Middle class cultural framework that is imposed by the middle class that puts them at an advantage

Question 21

What does Bourdieu argue symbolic capital allow the middle class to do?

Answer 21

Allows them to succeed in school

Question 22

How does Bourdieu argue symbolic violence affect the working class?

Answer 22

Leads to their underachievement

Lower paid jobs

No university

Question 23

Why does education have a middle class habitus?

Answer 23

The education system is run by middle-class people

Question 24

What is symbolic capital?

Answer 24

Where middle-class students gain status and recognition from having learnt middle-class habitus from primary socialisation

Question 25

What is symbolic violence?

Answer 25

Where working-class habitus is deemed worthless and their culture is devalued and therefore are forced to learn middle-class knowledge and values

Question 26

Why does habitus reproduce social class inequality?

Answer 26

Because the middle class start school at and advantage and therefore have a better chance at success and getting qualifications

Question 27

Why does habitus legitimise social class inequality?

Answer 27

Because the working class are made to feel uncomfortable and out-of-place so they don’t apply to universities so they stay in low paid, low-status jobs

Question 28

What do feminists argue Marxists focus too much on?

Answer 28

Argue they focus too much on class and ignore how education reproduces gender inequality due to patriarchy

Question 29

Why do postmodernists argue Marxism is out of date?

Answer 29

Education no longer produced mindless, passive worker but students with a diverse range of skills

Question 30

What do functionalists argue about education?

Answer 30

That is it meritocratic and that schools teach the values of society as a whole not just capitalism