Marxism
key concepts
Capitalism Economic system characterised
byprivateownership of the means of production andthepursui
of profit
Class Struggle Conflict betweenthe bourgeoisie and the proletariat overthe distribution of wealth and
Power
Alienation feeling of estrangement andpowerlessness experienced by workers under capitalism
False Consciousness The acceptance ofthe dominant ideologybythe oppressedclasswhich prevents them
from realising theirtrue interests
Marxist perspectives onEducation
Education is viewed as an institutionthatperpetuates and legitimises the inequalities inherent in
capitalist societies
Itserves the interests ofthe ruling class reproducing and reinforcing class divisions
by
Hidden curriculum Transmitting valuesnorms and beliefs thatsupport
the capitalist systems
Selection andAllocation Sorting students into different educationaltracksbased on theirsocialclassbackgroun
The curriculum is seen as reflectingtheinterests of therulingclass withsubjects like historyliteratureand
economics often presented from a bourgeois perspective
Bowles andGintis Correspondence Principle
Theyargue thatthestructure of education mirrors thestructure of the workplace preparing students for
future roles inthe capitalist economy
The correspondence principle suggests that the hierarchal authoritarian nature of schools prepares
forsimilar roles in the workforce
students
Evaluation ofMarxism andEducation
fghts the role of education in perpetuating social inequality
offers structuralanalysis of edulation focusing on its functions within capitalist societies
Weaknesses
Overemphasis on economic factorsneglecting other influences on education
Ignores thepossibilityofeducation serving as a site of resistance and social change
Criticsargue that Marxist analysis overlooks the role of individual agency andchoice in educa
key concepts
Capitalism Economic system characterised
byprivateownership of the means of production andthepursui
of profit
Class Struggle Conflict betweenthe bourgeoisie and the proletariat overthe distribution of wealth and
Power
Alienation feeling of estrangement andpowerlessness experienced by workers under capitalism
False Consciousness The acceptance ofthe dominant ideologybythe oppressedclasswhich prevents them
from realising theirtrue interests
Marxist perspectives onEducation
Education is viewed as an institutionthatperpetuates and legitimises the inequalities inherent in
capitalist societies
Itserves the interests ofthe ruling class reproducing and reinforcing class divisions
by
Hidden curriculum Transmitting valuesnorms and beliefs thatsupport
the capitalist systems
Selection andAllocation Sorting students into different educationaltracksbased on theirsocialclassbackgroun
The curriculum is seen as reflectingtheinterests of therulingclass withsubjects like historyliteratureand
economics often presented from a bourgeois perspective
Bowles andGintis Correspondence Principle
Theyargue thatthestructure of education mirrors thestructure of the workplace preparing students for
future roles inthe capitalist economy
The correspondence principle suggests that the hierarchal authoritarian nature of schools prepares
forsimilar roles in the workforce
students
Evaluation ofMarxism andEducation
fghts the role of education in perpetuating social inequality
offers structuralanalysis of edulation focusing on its functions within capitalist societies
Weaknesses
Overemphasis on economic factorsneglecting other influences on education
Ignores thepossibilityofeducation serving as a site of resistance and social change
Criticsargue that Marxist analysis overlooks the role of individual agency andchoice in educa
