Marxists

• Bowles and Gintis - The correspondence principle

  The idea is that the head teacher symbolises the boss and the student's workers, in order to learn to obey the boss. Which is learned through the hidden curriculum, which is things taught at school but is not formally on the curriculum. (e.g. respecting authority and accepting the values of the school).

  School serves to prepare working-class students for their role as exploited workers of the future. Encouraging them that following orders is normal since it is expected at the workplace too.
• Who studied a group of working-class boys referred to as 'the lads'?

  Willis
• What did 'the lads' form in response to their school experience?


  An anti-school subculture
• How did 'the lads' perceive school?


  They saw it as boring and pointless
• What strategies did 'the lads' develop to cope with their school experience?


  Bunking and messing about in lessons
• What was the consequence of 'the lads' rejection of school?


  They failed exams and ended up in low-paid, unskilled jobs
• What is the implication of 'the lads' ending up in low-paid jobs according to Willis?


  It aligns with what the ruling class wants for profit
• How did the strategies developed by 'the lads' in school affect them in the workplace?


  They followed them to the workplace, accepting exploitation
• What type of work did 'the lads' end up doing after school?


  Boring factory work
• What are the key findings of Willis's study on 'the lads'?


  • Formation of an anti-school subculture
  • Rejection of school as boring and pointless
  • Development of coping strategies (bunking/messing about)
  • Failure in exams leading to low-paid, unskilled jobs
  • Acceptance of exploitation in the workplace
• What is the main aim of education according to Bowles and Gintis?


  To produce obedient workers who will accept low pay
• What do Bowles and Gintis argue about meritocracy in education?


  They argue that there is no meritocracy in education
• How do Bowles and Gintis explain the differences in student achievement?


  Achievement is determined by the student's social class background
• Why are working-class students more likely to get lower results or fail?


  Due to disadvantages stemming from their class background
• What belief do students hold about their social position according to Bowles and Gintis?


  They believe society is meritocratic and do not challenge their low position
• What is the 'poor-are-dumb' theory of failure?


  It is the belief that the education system blames poverty for failure rather than capitalism
• What are the key arguments of Bowles and Gintis regarding education and social class?


  • Education aims to produce obedient workers
  • No meritocracy exists in education
  • Student achievement is influenced by social class background
  • Working-class students face disadvantages
  • Students internalize the belief in meritocracy
  • Education system blames poverty for failure
• Who is associated with the concept of the ideological state apparatus?


  Althusser
• Why might people rebel against a capitalist society according to Althusser?


  Because a capitalist society can't be maintained by force alone
• What are the two divisions of society according to Althusser?


  Repressive state apparatus and ideological state apparatus
• What is the role of the ideological state apparatus?


  To spread ruling class values, beliefs, and ideas
• How does the ideological state apparatus affect children?


  It leads children to accept and obey authority
• What is false class consciousness?


  When the proletariat does not realize they are being exploited by the bourgeoisie
• How does false class consciousness contribute to exploitation?


  It leads the proletariat to contribute to their own exploitation
• How do schools maintain false class consciousness?


  By brainwashing working-class students into thinking society is meritocratic
• What do working-class students do when they fail exams according to Althusser's theory?


  They blame themselves and do not challenge their position
• What are the key components of Althusser's theory on the ideological state apparatus?


  • Society divided into repressive and ideological state apparatus
  • Ideological state apparatus spreads ruling class values
  • Leads to acceptance of authority by children
  • False class consciousness prevents awareness of exploitation
  • Schools perpetuate meritocracy illusion