1. HOMEWORK – PEER ASSESSMENT
Q. Explain what sociologists mean by social cohesion (4)
1 Mark – DEFINE: Award 1 mark for the definition: Social
cohesion happens when everyone in society comes
together as a united whole.
1 Mark – EXPLAIN: Award 1 mark for an explanation: It is like
the ‘sticking together’ of society, schools teach
children the norms and values of society, schools help
students to acquire a British identity
1 Mark – Example: Award 1 mark for ONE example:
Citizenship lessons encourage students to identify with
British culture and see themselves as British citizens.
1 Mark – Compare: Award 1 mark for a comparison to
another function: E.g. social cohesion is different to
the economic function where education teaches
children the skills and knowledge for work.

2. RE-CAP Functions of education:
Social mobility
Secondary socialisation
Economic
Selection
Social cohesion
Social control

3. What are the Marxist views of education?
Lesson Aims:
Grade A/A* - will be able to evaluate Marxist views of education by making comparisons to Functionalist views.
Grade B – will be able to explain Marxist views of education, and identify some similarities and differences between Marxism and Functionalism.  
Grade C – will be able to describe Marxist views of education and identify one similarity and one difference between Functionalism and Marxism.

4. Video Activity: Pink Floyd ‘Another brick in the wall’
TASK – You will be watching the video twice. Working in small groups, each group will be focusing on one aspect of the video:
Play video from 2mins 22secs, finish 4mins 21secs
Play from 2mins 22 secs, finish 4mins 21secs

5. Video: Pink Floyd ‘Another brick in the wall’
1st watch – Each group will focus on one aspect of the video and make notes. What does your aspect suggest about education/school life? Then each group will feedback their observations with the class.
Group 1 – Music ,
Group 2 – Movement of the pupils
Group 3 – Lighting
Group 4 – Faces of the pupils
Play video from 2mins 22secs, finish 4mins 21secs
Play from 2mins 22 secs, finish 4mins 21secs

6. Video: Pink Floyd ‘Another brick in the wall’
2nd watch – After watching the video one more time, ewe will discuss key themes from the video.
“All in all you’re just another brick in the wall”
Play video from 2mins 22secs, finish 4mins 21secs
“We don’t need no thought control”
Play from 2mins 22 secs, finish 4mins 21secs

7. We don’t need no thought control
What does thought control mean?
How is thought controlled by schools?
What kind of thinking is encouraged? What kind of thinking is discouraged?

8. What do you think this image suggests about the education system?
Who or what do you think the person in the blue suit represents?
Do you agree with this representation of the education system?

9. All in all you’re just another brick in the wall
If the individual is the brick, then what is the wall?
What do you think is meant by ‘all in all you’re just another brick in the wall’?
Do you agree with this lyric or do you think that education is a positive experience?
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall

10. What does this image suggest about the effects of the education system?
Why do you think that hammers have been used?
Do you think this image represents society in any way?

11. Marxist views of education
As we read the handout ‘Marxist views of education’ as a class, highlight key words/points and make notes from our discussion.

12. Functionalist VS Marxists views of Education Secondary Socialisation
Role of Education
FUNCTIONALISTS SAY …
MARXISTS SAY…
Secondary Socialisation
Social cohesion
Economic
Selection
Social Mobility
Social Control

13. The role of education (Functionalism vs Marxism)
On your worksheet, quickly work out how Functionalists and Marxists view each of these key roles of education
Then, in you own words fill in the grid on the other side

14. Socialisation (norms and values)
Marxist
functionalist
Socializes people into accepting the values of powerful groups.
Example – the value and importance of hard work is stressed to prepare a future workforce to accept hard work as normal when they enter the workplace.
Agency of socialization where young people learn a common culture, beliefs and expectations.
Knits society together – people from different backgrounds learn to become one whole society

15. Political role/social cohesion
functionalist
Marxist
Learn about the political system
Learn about your roles and responsibilities as a citizen
Using your vote in elections wisely
Learn how to sit into your society and what brings us together – Brutishness!
Only certain ideas and views tolerated in education
Radical ideas not tolerated, rejected or ridiculed
Political views of the powerful come to be accepted by individuals

16. Skills for work / economic
functionalist
Marxist
Teaches the skills needed for work in a modern industrial society
Literacy, numeracy, ICT
Vocational courses train pupils for the world of work
Prepared pupils for their future occupational roles
Reinforces the class system
Children from working class families learn the skills for lower status professions and children from more powerful groups learn skills required for higher status occupations.

17. Selective role functionalist Marxist
Education system like a sieve – it selects students by their ability and places them in occupations best suited to their talents and skills
All individuals have equal opportunities in their school career – the system is meritocratic – higher qualifications are rewarded with jobs with higher pay.
Teachers and schools do not favour working class children so they under perform, therefore …
Does not provide equal opportunities to all in society, so working class are not ‘selected’ for high status positions in society

18. Social Mobility functionalist
Marxist
Social mobility – based on merit (i.e. meritocracy); if students work hard enough and succeed in school they can achieve a higher position in society from wherever they started.
Education system is designed to benefit powerful groups!
Rich gets have access to better education AND better social networks to help them get good jobs than the working class (i.e. family or family friends who hire you!)

19. Education – Social Control (accepting rules and authority  hierarchy)
functionalism
Marxist
For society to run smoothly there must be some means of regulating people’s behaviour.
Schools act as an agency of social control by teaching rules such as punctuality and obedience to authority.
The social control in school reflects social control in the wider society.
The importance of obeying the teacher is preparation for obeying your boss in the workplace.

20. Plenary
Which view of education do you agree with the most – Functionalist or Marxist?
Write a short paragraph explaining your view.

21. How do you structure your answer for 12 marks questions?

22. HOMEWORK
Describe one function which the education system performs and explain how this function can be criticised (5 marks)
Remember:
Describe / 2
Explain / 3

23. 12 Marks Question
ACTIVITY – Working in the following groups, plan your answer together on the planning sheet. Use your class notes and the information sheets on Marxism to help you.