marxist views on education

Conflict/structural theory

Pessimistic analysis-> schools are only for ruling minority

Feminists= shapes gender identities

Weberians= shapes distinct cultures

Schools create unequal class relations via training courses.

ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO:

Was hard when national curriculum was chosen by local authorities, but New Right standardised everything to allow equal opportunities

Goodson- New technology measn we're losing the british identity, should use things like shakespeare in english etc

Formal curriculum is controlled by those who follow status quo

Arnot- equal opportunites given via government initiatives

HIDDEN CURRICULUM:Ideologies that fit capitalists are used e.g. teaching styles -> W.Class have fewer opportunities

Two teching styles- traditional (teacher teaches, students listen) and progressive (teacher and student work together)

They say that W.Class are in a controlled environment-> lack of individuality and M.Class are given freedom to learn.

Post-modernists- need a mixture of both styles, Aronwitz and Giroux-> border pedagogy= help transform W.Class prospects-> Battle against traditional to create equality- Democratic practicies should be used! :D

BUT... they assume teachers will conform (state apparatus), teachers have the freedom to do it, students are resistive (Hannan and Shorthall)

Bowles and Gintis-Structure of educational institutes make young people accept the current social order (W.Class in USA are highly controlled via hidden curriculum)

BUT... Brown and Lauder -> never a simple correlation between education and economy needs- 'first wave' education= divide elite and masses- not all hidden message are read the same by everyone

Apple-> teachers are being de-skilled via curriculum- profession becoming feminised

Teacher and pupils try to resist (relative autonomy) but they still reproduce inequalities--> struggle for freedom

FIRSTLY- equality doesn't exist- students don't have the same opportunity e.g. high fees for private schools

Better off families have the knowledge and means to manipulate the education system to their advantage, kicking-out W.Class families-> ruling class ideologies

Edwards and Whitty- popular school ***** kids on basic academic ability-> W.Class go to less popular schools--> 'two-tier system'

SECONDLY- W.Class are 'cooled' out of system e.g. teachers hold low expectations-> self-fulfilling prophecy

Aronwitz and Giroux= W.Class kids who 'get on' with system have to abandon their W.Class attitude/identity/culture to do so.

Occupational success= social class

Cultural reproduction goes against meritocratic ideas and ensures W.Class STAYS W.Class

W.Class underachieve compared to M.Class due to non-meritocratic education system

PROBLEM- how to create equal opportunities whilst meeting demands of capitalist society...

Brown and Lauder- IQ is used to detect talent in early stages- then select socially

Evans and Waites- results of IQ tests= interest M.Class and minimise W.Class resistance to the unfair system

Equality of education system is not offered in schools BECAUSE capitalist society is not meritocratic

Society is not meritocratic because the system uses the advantages and gives them to the ruling class to ensure their own childrens success

Therefore schools not only reproduce class inequalities, but LEGITIMISES it too-. its the inevitable

This is done by spreading myths that the system is open(!)

E.g. educational achievement is based upon merit, so those who are in the ruling class are there because they worked hard and have the ability, and the W.Class are there because of the lack of talent