The Marxist view of education Cambridge IGCSE Sociology revision
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In plain words
Marxists look at the same school and see a sorting machine with the result decided in advance. The children of bosses become bosses, the children of workers become workers, and everyone leaves believing that it was fair.
9 things to know
- Marxists argue that education serves capitalism by reproducing class inequalities: the children of each class are prepared for the same position as their parents.
- Socialisation and social control are forms of ideological control. Schools teach pupils to accept hierarchy and competition, and to believe that the system is fair.
- The hidden curriculum trains future workers. Pupils learn to obey, to be punctual, to put up with boredom, and to work for a reward given by someone else.
- The official curriculum also reflects the interests of the powerful, who decide what counts as knowledge.
- Schools have a middle-class culture. Cultural capital is the knowledge, language and tastes that middle-class families pass on, which schools reward. Children who arrive with it have a head start.
- The myth of meritocracy: education appears to reward ability, so those who fail blame themselves and not the system. In reality, class background shapes results.
- Material factors: poverty holds pupils back. They may lack books, a quiet place to work, and access to digital technology.
- Setting by ability: working-class pupils are more likely to be placed in lower sets, where less is expected of them.
- Criticism. Many working-class pupils do succeed. Pupils are not passive, and some see through the system and resist it. Marxism says little about gender and ethnicity.
Worked example
Two pupils have equal ability. One has parents who are teachers, a room of her own and a laptop. The other shares a bedroom and has no internet at home. Explain the Marxist view of their chances.
- The first has cultural capital: her parents know how the system works and speak its language.
- She also has material advantages: space, quiet and digital technology.
- The second lacks both, through no fault of her own.
- If the first does better, the school will say that she earned it. Marxists call this the myth of meritocracy.
Tips and tricks
- Cultural capital is about knowledge and ways of speaking. Material factors are about money and things. They are different, and the syllabus lists both.
- Functionalists say meritocracy. Marxists say myth of meritocracy. One phrase turns an account of one theory into an evaluation of the other.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The Marxist view of education: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What does education reproduce, according to Marxists?
Each generation ends up in the class of its parents.
Which is a material factor?
Material means money and the things it buys.
What does the hidden curriculum prepare pupils for, in the Marxist view?
School mirrors the workplace.
Why do Marxists call meritocracy a myth?
The contest looks fair, and is not.
Which finding is hardest for the Marxist view to explain?Stretch
If education only reproduced class, they would not get there.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The Marxist view of education
Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What is meant by the term "cultural capital"?[2]
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The knowledge, language, attitudes and tastes of the middle class, which give their children an advantage in education.
Describe how the hidden curriculum benefits capitalism, according to Marxists.[4]
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Pupils learn obedience to authority, punctuality and acceptance of hierarchy. They get used to boring tasks and to working for rewards given by others. This produces an obedient workforce that accepts its place, which is what employers need.
Explain what Marxists mean by the "myth of meritocracy".[4]
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Education claims that everyone has an equal chance, and that success depends on ability and effort. Marxists argue that this is untrue, because class background strongly affects results. The belief makes inequality seem fair, so those who fail blame themselves and do not question the system.
Answers: The Marxist view of education
- 1. The knowledge, language, attitudes and tastes of the middle class, which give their children an advantage in education.
- 2. Pupils learn obedience to authority, punctuality and acceptance of hierarchy. They get used to boring tasks and to working for rewards given by others. This produces an obedient workforce that accepts its place, which is what employers need.
- 3. Education claims that everyone has an equal chance, and that success depends on ability and effort. Marxists argue that this is untrue, because class background strongly affects results. The belief makes inequality seem fair, so those who fail blame themselves and do not question the system.