Try and write down at least three things.If you get stuck, share ideas with a partner

To understand Marxist views of education.

To evaluate those views.

To use sociological evidence and research to support your judgements.

To write an essay length answer

To contribute to whole class discussion in an orderly fashion

To think critically about sociology explanations of inequality in education

Marxists see capitalist society as being ruled by the economy.

The minority, the ruling class or bourgeoisie rule the majority, namely the workers or proletariat.

The bourgeoisie have the wealth and the power to rule.

The proletariat are exploited because they are not treated fairly. This is the basis of class inequality.

Education reproduces the inequalities and social relations of production of Capitalist Society.

Education serves to legitimate these inequalities under the guise of Meritocracy.

Althusser believed that education socialises working class children into accepting their subordinate status to the middle class.

Education conveys the ideology of the ruling class.

Education prepares individuals for the world of work, in order to accept their position in a capitalist society.

What do you think of these ideas?

Have a minute of discussion with

your study partners

Bowles and Gintis (1976), say the main function of education in capitalist countries is to create workers.

Correspondence theory suggests that educational inequality mirrors the inequality of wider society.

If capitalism is to succeed it must have an industrious and obedient workforce that is too divided to challenge the authority of the rulers.

The education system succeeds in fulfilling this aim by means of the hidden curriculum

What do you think of these ideas?

Have a minute of discussion with

your study partners

Schools kill creativity, insist on conformity, and offer indoctrination into capitalistic society.

Children learn to accept authority in an unthinking fashion and this leads them to accept government dictats in the same way.

What do you think of these ideas?

Have a minute of discussion with

your study partners

Did an ethnography of twelve anti-school boys ‘the lads’

These boys rejected school and other children within it, presenting themselves as superior

Willis claims that working class children choose to fail in school as a rejection of capitalism

Their rejection of school is an act of resistance

Resistance is futile

What do you think of these ideas?

Have a minute of discussion with

your study partners

Traditional Marxist

Louis Althusser

Schools pass on messages that people accept without question. They are socialised into accepting capitalism

Neo- Marxism

Paul Willis

Children can see through the ideology, but it doesn’t matter. The reality is low pay work, poverty and oppression regardless.

Evaluation is the process of judging the value of a research project, an idea or a concept, using further concepts, studies and theories to support the judgement that is made.

Strengths and weaknesses are identified in an evaluation

It points out how ideology is transmitted within schools via the hidden curriculum.

It recognises conflict of interest in schools; not everyone shares values.

It points out the inequalities of both opportunity and outcome in the system

It assumes teachers are unaware of class dynamics and are all middle class agents

Many working class children do succeed in the education system

It overemphasises class and ignores other structural inequalities: ethnicity and gender

Criteria for success› Outline Marxism› Outline what the theorists say› Assess the strengths of Marxist thinking› Assess the weakness of Marxist thinking.› Refer to AO1 knowledge about the educational

system of the UK› Use the concepts of sociology› Refer to studies, writers or theory in your

answer.› Use evaluative language in your answer

Criteria for success:• There will be a simple explanation of each theory• Two broad similarities between the theories will be

identified• Two major differences between the two theories will

be identified.• Images and colour will be used effectively to

highlight key points.

Popular theoriesPopular theories Critical theoriesCritical theories

thinkingthinking Functionalism and the New Right Marxism and liberation theory

workworkTo select people for the right jobs in society

To ensure that the children of the wealthy and powerful get the best jobs

ideasideasEducation offers people morals and values

Education trains people to accept a view of the world that is conformist and passive so that poorer people can be exploited

socialisationsocialisationPeople are trained in skills for future life

People learn not to question authority and are offered an education which limits them to specific workplace roles

curriculumcurriculumPeople are given the curriculum that they will need to do well in society.

The curriculum is tailored to the needs of those in power and reflects ideological beliefs

Social Social mobilitymobility

Education exists to provide a route up through society for the most able

Education serves to keep most people in their place.

Develop your notes on this topic by looking at the e-book on the NGfL-Cymru website.

Add notes from books and downloads on Marxism to your folders.