Term
MARXIST APPROACH
2 MAIN FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION |
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Definition
1. Education reproduces inequalities and social relations of production in a capitalist society.
2. It serves to legitimate these inequalities through the myth of meritocracy. |
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Term
KEY THEORIST: LOUIS ALTHUSSER
(1971) |
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Definition
Education is an ISA (transmits capitalist values disguised as common values) - Ruling class ideology.
• Education allows capitalism to flourish without having to use force. Uses "ideological manipulation" and "repressive force". |
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Term
| KEY THEORIST: PIERRE BOURDIEU (1977) |
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Definition
The W/C is duped into accepting failure and justified limited social mobility. See Cultural capital (1989)
• cultural reproduction of M/C, superior than the culture of W/C. He describes this as "symbolic violence" against the W/C. |
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Term
| KEY THEORISTS: BOWLES AND GINTIS (1976) |
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Definition
•Correspondence Theory.
•Hidden Curriculum - conformist pupils = higher grades. School teaches acceptance of hierarchy. Pupils motivated by external rewards of exam success.
•Concept of work and education being "fragmented" |
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Term
KEY THEORISTS:
3 NEO-MARXISTS |
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Definition
Henry Giroux (1984): pupils shape their own education, sometimes resist discipline. Social groups strive for equality. Capitalists have more power than others but not all the power.
Paul Willis (1977): 'lads study' in Midlands. Found that hidden curriculum not always accepted, education doesn't always succeed in socialisation and not all students conform.
Glenn Rikowski (2012): education is like a commodity. "Teaching factories". It focuses on the generation of profit. |
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Term
| 4 CRITICISMS OF MARXIST APPROACH |
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Definition
• emphasises class inequality and ignores gender/ethnicity
• BROWN (1997): criticises correspondence theory. Evidence of teamwork. Also critical thinking (REYNOLDS 1984)
•hidden curriculum criticised by some neo-Marxists such as Willis
•some evidence is dated and may not be representative. E.g: Bowles and Gintis (1976) in USA -> Applicable to Britain in 21st Century? |
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