Neo-Marxist

• What is a potential problem for all Marxist theories of education?

  People in education are often left-wing biased and aim to do the opposite of what Marxist theories accuse them of.
• Why do many teachers claim they joined the profession?

  They wanted to make a difference.
• What is the neo-Marxist argument regarding educational processes?

  These processes often happen unconsciously or semi-consciously rather than through brainwashing.
• How might teachers unconsciously perceive pupils from a working-class background?

  They might assume these pupils are less able, less engaged, or making less effort.
• What social backgrounds do school teachers come from?

  Teachers come from a wide range of social backgrounds.
• What trend has been observed regarding pupils from working-class backgrounds and university degrees?

  The percentage of pupils from working-class backgrounds going on to university degrees has increased.
• How has the number of teachers from working-class backgrounds changed?

  The number of teachers from a working-class background has also increased.
• What argument is made about teachers' social backgrounds and their habitus?

  Some argue that teachers become middle-class and adopt a middle-class habitus regardless of their background.
• What does the argument about teachers adopting a middle-class habitus suggest about Bourdieu's theory?

  It suggests that the middle-class habitus is less deeply ingrained than Bourdieu suggests.
• What do interactionists argue about the relationship between teachers and pupils?

  They argue that teachers and pupils construct meaning from their interactions.
• How do interactionists view the role of social class in teacher-pupil interactions?

  Social class is a key factor, but social actors have agency to respond to one another.
• How do neo-Marxists relate to the interactionist perspective?

  Many neo-Marxists agree with interactionists, indicating they do not fit neatly into a structure/action macro/micro typology.