What can you recall about Marxism?

By 1979 Most children are in comprehensive schools, but not all. Some grammar schools still survive. Butler Education Act 1945 Introduces free secondary education for all children. 11+ examination selects for either grammar or secondary modern 1988 Education Reform Act New Right government introduces National Curriculum which all children must study. This is a list of subjects and what must be taught Education Reform Act Standardised Assessment Test (SATS) introduced and children are tested at 7, 11, 14, and GCSE 1979 Margaret Thatcher’s New Right Conservative government is elected. This changes the philosophy of education to one where equality is not important, but ‘free market’ economy takes over Assisted Places Scheme Gifted children are given funding to attend private and public schools thus subsidising the income of independent schools Grammar schools fill up with the children of the middle classes and there was wastage of working class talent Labour government instructs all Education authorities to plan comprehensive schools so all children have access to same opportunities 1988 ERA Schools are given control over their own finances and power is taken from Local Education Authorities and given to school governors 1988 GCSE introduced to replace GCE and CSE for 16 year olds 1963 Robbins Report extends university provision for more people – Polytechnics (now Metropolitan Universities) are set up 1951 GCE and A level examinations introduced for pupils at grammar schools 1996 GNVQ examinations introduced to encourage practical and applied subjects in schools 1973 School leaving age rises to 16 for all children 1994 A* examinations introduced at GCSE for the better candidates 1973 CSE examinations introduced for pupils at secondary modern schools 1979 First education act of Thatcher government is to repeal the laws that promote comprehensive schools 2000 Reform of ‘A’ level exams into 6 unit modules with AS for 17 year olds

What is Marxism?  Marxists see capitalist society as being ruled by the economy.  The minority, the ruling class, rule the majority, namely the workers.  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.

What can Marxists tell us about education and differences in attainment? The education system is a conspiracy which exists to deny the children of the working class access to an understanding of their true class position.

Marxism summarised Education reproduces the inequalitiesof Capitalist Society. Education serves to legitimate these inequalities under the guise of Meritocracy.

Louis Althusser 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.

Bowles and Gintis Bowles and Gintis (1976), say the main function of education in capitalist countries is to create workers. Suggest that educational inequality mirrors the inequality of wider society. If capitalism is to succeed it must have a hard working 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? Note down what you agree with and what you disagree with.

Newspaper articles… Read each article and answer the following questions: 1.What is the story about? 2.Why might a Marxist be interested in it? 3.Do you think this is anything to be concerned about? 4.Of all of the articles you have read which one do you think will effect the future of education most? Explain why

Ivan Illich (1973) 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.

Paul Willis (1977) 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

Two Marxist viewpoints 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.

What are the strengths of Marxism? 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

And the weaknesses?  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 inequalities: ethnicity and gender