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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
functionalist approach.
the

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.