The Marxist perspective on education

• Marxism


  A conflict view that sees society as being based on class divisions and exploitation
• Classes in capitalist society

  • Ruling class (capitalists, or bourgeoisie)
  • Subject class (working class, or proletariat)
• Capitalist class


  • Own the means of production (land, factories etc)
  • Make their profits by exploiting the labour of the working class
• Class conflict


  Could threaten the stability of capitalism or even result in a revolution to overthrow it
• Social institutions


  • Reproduce class inequalities
  • Play an ideological role by persuading exploited workers that inequality is justified and acceptable
• Repressive state apparatus (RSA)


  When necessary to protect capitalist interests, the state uses force to repress the working class via the police, courts and army
• Ideological state apparatus (ISA)


  Controls people's ideas, values and beliefs. Includes religion, the mass media and the education system
• Education system as an ISA

  • Reproduces class inequality, by failing each generation of working-class pupils in turn and thereby ensuring that they end up in the same kinds of jobs as their parents
  • Legitimates (justifies) class inequality by producing ideologies (sets of ideas and beliefs) that disguise its true cause
• Capitalism needs


  • Workers with the kind of obedient attitudes and submissive personality-type that is willing to accept hard work, low pay and authority
• Correspondence principle


  The relationships and structures found in education mirror or correspond to those of work
• How school mirrors work

  • Alienation-pupils' lack control over education
  • Hierarchy of authority: head > teachers > pupils (and sometimes prefects)
  • Extrinsic satisfaction (rewards) rather than from interest in the subjects studied
  • Fragmentation of knowledge into unconnected subjects
  • Competition and divisions among pupils
• Hidden curriculum


  All the 'lessons' that are learnt in school without being directly taught. Through the everyday workings of the school, pupils accept hierarchy, competition, alienation etc.
• Myth of meritocracy


  The claim that education and the world of work are both meritocratic, because everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve. Those who gain the highest rewards deserve them because they are the most able and hardworking.
• In reality, success is based on class background, not ability or educational achievement
• The myth of meritocracy helps persuade workers to accept inequality and their subordinate position as legitimate
• The education system rewards those who conform to the qualities required of the future workforce, not those who are non-conformist or creative thinkers
• The education system not only reproduces and legitimates class inequalities, but increasingly it does so while making profits for capitalists