SociologyExchange.co.uk Shared Resource

How can I improve my essay? L.O. What is the Marxist explanation of the role of education in society? How does this view compare to another explanation? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Marxist view?

Pictionary? Can you say… What for? Why? Specialist key terms?

Pictionary?•

Pictionary?

Pictionary? Can you go further… and offer an evaluation of this view?

Pictionary?

.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A993UYg3M NY• Watch the clip – montage of different clips/ images showing the Marxist perspective on the role of education• Give me three… points about the Marxist perspective about the role of education• Can you give me an alternative view/explanation about the role of education?• Can you … give me an evaluation point of the Marxist perspective? (Strength or weakness).

Practice questionRead Item A and answer the question that follows:Item AMarxism is a conflict view that sees society as based on class divisions andexploitation. Education functions in the interests of the ruling class in a numberof ways. Althusser argues that education is an ideological state apparatuscontrolling people’s ideas, values and beliefs.In particular, education reproduces class inequality, failing each generation ofworking-class pupils in turn. It also legitimates class inequality by producingideologies that disguise its true cause. Education tries to convince people thatinequality is inevitable and that failure is the fault of the individual. Marxistsagree that education takes place in the ‘long shadow of work’.Other sociologists such as functionalists and the New Right disagree withMarxists. They argue that education performs positive functions for society as awhole.Question: Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess theMarxist explanations of the role of education in society. (20marks)

Learning Mentors• Mentor is a guide/teacher/supporter/advisor• How can I be a good mentor to my learning partner?

Feedback• Read each other’s work• Using the guidance mark on the work where they have• Explained points about the Marxist view of society and their view about the role of education.• Compared the Marxist view to an alternative view e.g. Functionalism on the role of education• Spoke about the weaknesses or strengths of the Marxist view

Mark in green where the student explained points about the Marxist views. Have they: Outlined the main views of Marxism? Explained the main Marxist concepts; Class Conflict; Capitalism; owners of the means ofproduction; exploitation of the working classes; threat of a revolution; social institutions such as education create ideologies to maintain capitalism; create false consciousness; legitimate (allow) inequality? Have they: Mentioned Althusser. Talked about how the state has 2 elements that help to keep thecapitalists in power; the Repressive State Apparatus (police/army/courts)and the Ideologicalstate apparatus (education/media/religion). Said how education reproduces class inequality and legitimates inequality? Mentioned Bowles and Gintis. Talked about why capitalism needs an obedient workforce and linked this to the role of education. Mentioned the correspondence principle or how school mirrors work. Talked about how the hidden curriculum prepares students for work and the myth of meritocracy. Mentioned Paul Willis’ Learning to Labour study.

Mark in orange where the student compared points about the Marxist views• .Mentioned the Functionalist perspective that sees education as a meritocratic fair system that prepares us for our roles in society and acts as society in miniature ensuring that the most talented are allocated the most important roles. Mentioned that the Feminist views argue that schools reproduce capitalism and patriarchy. Willis’ study concentrated on class inequality but what about gender inequality? Mentioned that Postmodernists think the Marxist view is out of date; the correspondence theory no longer exists; class system no longer operates as society is much more diverse and separated. There is diversity and choice.

Mark in red where the student evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of Marxism Mentioned a strength: although Marxists have been criticised they do highlight how education has maintained class inequality they have exposed the myth of meritocracy. Marxists disagree amongst themselves: Bowles and Gintis take a deterministic view that students passively accept indoctrination yet Willis’ study shows how boys can reject the system of meritocracy and form subcultures. Willis’ study was very small and only focused on boys what about gender; ethnicity?Willis has been criticised as romanticising the lads and presenting them as working-class heroes despite their anti-school homophobic/sexist attitudes. His study is likely to be representative.

What do I need to do to improve my answer?• I can improve my explanation by…• I can improve the comparison of the Marxism explanation by…• I can improve the evaluation of the Marxism explanation by…

.Cloak Sledge Tourist Machine- Show how each of these random words might link to today’s lesson.- Explain the influence or linkAdapted Edward De Bono’s ‘How to Have Creative Ideas’. See www.edwarddebono.comhttp://www.fieryideas.com/the-supertimer-19-c.asp Back to Plenaries

SociologyExchange.co.uk Shared Resource

by sociologyexchange.co.uk on Jul 18, 2012

Accessibility

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics