MARXIST views on education

What is an ideological state apparatus?

Althusser’s view that the institutions in society (school, police, family, etc) that spread the dominant view in the society e.g. capitalism.

What is the long shadow of work / correspondence principle?

Bowles and Gintis’ view that schools have a ‘hidden curriculum’ to prepare students for the workforce e.g. learning to do what authority tells you

What is the hidden curriculum?

Things taught in school unofficially e.g. comments about politics, religion, etc.

What is the ruling class ideology?

Ideas/views of the upper class e.g. capitalism. This is what the state apparatus enforces.

What is false consciousness?

Feeling like there is nothing wrong with being working class and not realising that they are actually being oppressed.

What is cultural capital?

Bourdieu’s view that there are non-financial assets that give a social advantage e.g. understanding things about British citizenship that are part of the hidden curriculum.

What is habitus?

Bourdieu’s view that different classes have different values and behaviours.

What is hegemony?

The upper class views being dominant.

What is the bourgeoisie?

upper / ruling class.

What is the proletariat?

Oppressed / working class.

What is stratification?

the division of society where a class structure causes one class to have power over the other.

What is the role of education according to marxism?

1. To reproduce technical skills so students can take on jobs appropriate to their place in the class structure - achieved through the hidden curriculum.

   1. The reproduction of the ruling class ideology - socialising the labour force into accepting this ideology and resulting in false consciousness e.g. made to feel ‘less good’ as they cannot afford extra resources/trips/etc.

What are criticisms of the Marxist view?

Schools have a pupil premium budget to help working classes so they are not as oppressed.

School doesn’t create an obedient work force as there are many anti-school subcultures.

Students are not socialised into false consciousness as they are taught to think for themselves.

How would functionalists criticise the marxist view?

They say that inequality in legitimate as anyone can become working class because the classes are divided based on merit so it is their own fault if they are working class.

They say there is social mobility so there is no false consciousness.

How would post-modernists criticise the marxist view?

They say that marxism is too macro and overgeneralises problems in society.

How would feminists criticise the marxist view?

They would say there is not enough focus on the further oppression of women.

How would Marxists argue that the education system could be improved?

Pupil premium money for disadvantaged students.

Teachers to consciously teach cultural capital.

Free nursery school places so working class youth can getting better reading skills from ayounger age.