Transcript marxist theorist sheets for your grids

What is an ideological state
apparatus?
An institution, influenced by the State,
that transmits ruling-class ideas in the
guise of mainstream ideas in order to
reproduce, legitimise and hide existing
patterns of class inequality.
What is the main function of
education as an ideological state
apparatus?
To ensure that ruling class dominance
of economic, social & political power
continues undisturbed, by convincing
working class pupils that their
educational failure is their fault.
What is the hidden curriculum,
and how does it differ from the
academic curriculum?
The curriculum is concerned with
transmitting knowledge and skills,
whereas the hidden curriculum
(embodied in the organisation, rules &
routines of schools) is concerned with
transmitting conforming attitudes..
According to Althusser, what is
the function of classroom
knowledge such as history?
Why are city academies criticised
by Marxist sociologists?
History teaching has focused
traditionally on powerful figures such
as Kings and Queens. This passes on
the idea that heredity, hierarchy &
obedience to authority are worthy
values and norms.
The content of their lessons emphasise
capitalist values such as free
enterprise. This is not surprising, as
city academies are financed partly by
private capital.
According to Althusser, what does
most classroom knowledge either
neglect or ignore altogether?
Subjects that contain knowledge that
might be used to criticise the capitalist
system, e.g. republicanism, socialism,
feminism.
According to Marxist sociologists,
what happens to those pupils who
question the legitimacy of teachers
and education?
They are often defined as problematic,
anti-authority etc. and relegated to
lower sets and streams, in which they
are subjected to further social
controls. This leads to their eventual
failure.
What message does the hidden
curriculum mainly transmit,
especially to working class pupils?
That failure is the result of individual
deficiency, rather than a consequence
of capitalism’s need for a manual
labour force.
How do Bowles & Gintis view the
concept of meritocracy?
As an ideological myth. A few working
class pupils are allowed access to
further and higher education to give
the impression of equality of
opportunity, which is false.
Critics argue the Marxist
sociologists of education have a
simple view of decision-making and
power in education. Why is this?
They say education benefits a capitalist
elite, but the large number of
influential groups in the education
system suggests Marxists are being too
simplistic.
How might truancy and exclusion
be used to criticise the Marxist
theory of education?
It suggests the hidden curriculum
doesn’t always succeed in producing
conformist pupils.
Why is it difficult to test Marxist
concepts such as the hidden
curriculum & ideology?
They are highly abstract ideas that are
difficult to operationalise (turn into
variables that can be observed &
measured easily).
Why did Paul Willis’s ‘lads’ see
education as irrelevant?
Because they were happy to move into
manual work in factories, for which
qualifications were generally not
required.
What was the effect of the hidden
curriculum on Willis’s ‘lads’?
There was no effect. The value system
of the school was ignored – the ‘lads’
substituted their own value system
based on ‘having a laff’.
Why is Willis’s research an
interpretivist critique of Marxism?
Unlike traditional Marxists, Willis was
interested in how the ‘lads’ in his study
saw and interpreted the world around
them. He noted that they actively
sought out working class jobs and
chose to ‘fail’ at school – they were
not forced.
Who are the two most important
functionalist thinkers with regard to
the role of education?
Durkheim and Parsons.
According to functionalism, what
two elements underpin social
order?
Value consensus (general agreement
on norms & values) and an integrated
division of labour (the way jobs and
skills are organised).
Identify two ways in which the
education system serves as a
secondary agent of socialisation.
It socialises each generation into
society’s values, norms, attitudes etc,
particularly the belief that work is a
highly valued activity. It encourages
social conformity by stressing
adherence to formal rules.
According to Durkheim, what is the
function of the knowledge taught in
schools?
To bind individuals to society, e.g. by
making them aware of the past
achievements of their society, so
encouraging cultural pride.
Apart from transmitting
knowledge, how do schools convey
the idea that the social group is
more important than the
individual?
Through mechanisms such as school
uniforms, assemblies and sports days.
KEY MARXIST CONCEPTS
1. Ruling class ideology
2. Legitimation of inequality
3. Correspondence principle / theory
4. Social reproduction
5. Counter(anti)-school culture
6. Hidden curriculum
7. Fragmentation
8. Myth of meritocracy
9. Shop-floor culture
10. Penetrations
11. Ideological state apparatus
12. Subservient workforce
13. Acceptance of hierarchy
14. ‘Jug and mug’ principle
15. Motivation by external rewards