Transcript Education - St Vincent College

Education
Marxism
Some questions…
1. Functionalists argue that there are three broad
roles that education fulfils. The first of these is
socialisation – something that ensures that:
a) young people are socialised into key cultural
values.
b) young people are given the chance to make
friends.
c) young people learn how to read and write.
Some questions…
2. The second function of education is skills
provision – something that is important for:
a) preparing people for their married life.
b) preparing people for their working life.
c) preparing people for examinations.
Some questions…
3. The third function of education is role
allocation – something that:
a) ensures that people end up becoming
wealthy.
b) ensures that people end up working in
jobs that are appropriate for their skills.
c) ensures that young people know their
place in society.
Some questions…
4. What did Durkheim say about education?
a) education passes on norms and values.
b) education helps to create social order.
c) both of the above (which lead to a values
consensus being formed).
Some questions…
5. What did Parsons say about education?
a) education (specifically, school) is like a
bridge between the family and adult roles in
society.
b) school passes on the universal value of
achievement.
c) both of the above.
Some questions…
6. Parsons said that education selects children
for appropriate roles in society. It does this
because it is:
a) problematic.
b) autocratic.
c) meritocratic.
Some questions…
7. Davis and Moore (1945) said that society
sorts its members into different positions.
There are certain rules for how education
does this that are called:
a) the principles of education.
b) the principles of state control.
c) the principles of stratification.
Some questions…
8. Davis and Moore argued that there has to be
a system of unequal reward in order to:
a) motivate people to train for the top
positions in society.
b) keep the rich people rich.
c) oppress the desires of the working class.
Marxism & Education
• Remember: the main themes of Marxism
are…
– Class Conflict
– Social Inequality
Althusser (1971)
• Marxist sociologists challenge the functionalist
approach.
• For example, Althusser (1971) disagrees that the
main function of education is the transmission of
common values.
• Instead, Althusser argues that education is an
ideological state apparatus.
Althusser (1971)
• Ideological – set of ideas
• state – rulers (elites)
• apparatus – the way something works…
Althusser (1971)
• Althusser suggests that the real function of
education is to maintain, justify and
reproduce class inequalities from one
generation to the next.
• Althusser argues that this is done through the
hidden curriculum.
Althusser (1971)
• The hidden curriculum ensures that working
class people conform to the capitalist system
(the economic structure) and that the position
of the ruling class is maintained as a result.
• Working class people accept relative failure
and inequality as a result.
Bowles and Gintis (1976)
• Bowles and Gintis (1976) elaborate on
Marxist themes and ideas.
• They suggest that education reproduces the
capitalist relations of production.
• This means that the hierarchy of work is
replicated at school.
Bowles and Gintis (1976)
• Because of this, the workers (pupils) unquestioningly
adapt to the needs of the elitist (school) system.
• In this sense, Bowles and Gintis suggest that the
activities of school correspond to the world of work.
• Teachers are like bosses, pupils are like workers.
Bowles and Gintis (1976)
• Workers (pupils) are motivated by rewards (such as
exam success).
• At school, rewards are not entirely dependant upon
academic ability.
• Conformity and obedience can lead to educational
success.
Functionalism & Marxism:
Education
• Functionalists see education as a way of producing
model citizens.
• Marxists argue that education is intended to turn
working class kids into conformist workers.
• Both approaches are structural – they see social
institutions as being more important than
individuals.