It focuses on class conflict. A key founder of conflict theory was Karl Marx. He believed that there is/or was a bitter conflict between the bourgeoisie (those who own the capital) and the proletariat (the workers who toil for low pay). He believed this conflict could only end when the proletariat repelled aging the bourgeoisie. Functionalist division of labor Education provides society with a ‘division of labor’ this means schools help identify who will be the bin man and who will
For example they look at what education does for society as a whole not just certain people in society. Functionalists also believe that society is based on consensus, i.e. we are all socialised to agree on norms and values. Functionalists believe that each part of society has a function to make sure that society runs smoothly and everything stays in harmony. For example education has a function to make sure people are educated and conform to works place norms.
Marxism is a conflict theory, between two social classes the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. They believe in exploiting the proletariats through inequality and labour. Marxism theory is based on capitalism and is a macro theory because it looks at the whole of society. According to Louis Althusser the education system has replaced the role of the church; he argues that the role of the church had a strong influence on individual’s ideologies. Now people’s ideologies are influenced by the education system, which is now the main agency of control within society.
Parsons concluded that school is based on meritocratic principles whereby everyone is given equal opportunity, and individuals achieve rewards through their own efforts and abilities. At work, we gain promotion get sacked if we are good or incompetent for the job, while at school we pass or fail through our own individual efforts. This is how Parsons believes school prepares the young people for the work
Marxism is a structuarlist ideology which means that they paying attention to social institutions and structures over individuals, and it was Karl Marxs (1945) who came up with it. The belief that society is divided into the bourgeoisie, who own the "means of production", and the proletariat, who do the work, also known as upper class and working class. The bourgeoisie or capitalist class exploit the workers, and arrange society to keep the workers down. Most of the profit from the work that the working class do is kept by the bourgeoisie. Now, when we know the definitions, we can look at the Marxism view of education.
Student’s values, personality and attitudes are shaped to make them useful for capitalism and to make money for society. Education is an important part of each individual’s secondary socialisation. It teaches and encourages children to learn and conform to norms and values that are expected of them in society. Marxists believe that these norms and values are taught through a ‘hidden curriculum’ (Bowles and Gintis 1976). It teaches pupils to be flexible, obedient, punctual, and to have respect for people of authority (i.e.
Socialism postulates that, given all humans are part of a society, then all humans have certain responsibilities to the group in which they find themselves a part. This assumes that all forms of society and civilization are different collective arrangements where groups of people are obliged to share available resources to increase the likelihood of their survival. In the extreme form of both systems, a huge amount of power inevitably ends up concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people. Under socialism, that power is given to leaders with the
* Social Control- Teaching acceptance of rules and values. * The political role- Teaching people to be effective citizens. 2) How would functionalists explain the purpose of education? Functionalist such as Parson believes that the purpose of education is to perform a beneficial role in the society. One way to perform a beneficial role in the society is to learn the skills and knowledge from school that is necessary to work in a modern, technical, industrial society e.g.
The concept of a classless society has been elaborated by Karl Marx, the father of Marxist philosophy which is the basis of the Communist ideology. As a member of a contemporary society under a democracy, my beliefs are rooted on a society made up of different classes. In order to get to a higher class of society, one has to work with sweat, and even blood. This idea has caused many revolutions because some who do not want the present structure of society want it to be restructured to suit the need of every individual. This essay is an attempt to discuss a classless society and to establish whether a classless society is attainable and sustainable in this century.
Examine Marxists theories of the role of education Marxists theory of the role of education is seen as the opposite of functionalists where they see education as based on value consensus. Marxist approaches offer a more critical view of the role of education and see it as based on class division and capitalist exploitation. Some of the people who are believed to be Marxists include: Karl Marx, Louis Althusser, Samuel Bowles and Herbet Gintis and Paul Willis. Karl Marx was one of the main Marxists who had a strong belief in Marxism. His theory on education is described as a two-class system: the capitalist class and the working class.