Marxist Functions on Education
Assess the Marxist view that the function of the education system is to pass on ideology and reproduce the existing class structure.
Claire Jones
Education is a vital system in most societies, and is compulsory for all children up to the age of 16 in Britain. There are many different ideas as to why education is so important and the functions it fulfills within society, some more positive than others. Although some people say that education is only intended to teach the individual enough knowledge to pass exams and start a career, most sociologists believe it has functions which go beyond this surface view and in some way affect or serve society as a whole as well as the individual. An ideology is false view of society which is presented to the members of that society in order to maintain stability within it. Beyond the formal curriculum which students learn in education, Marxists believe an ideology is also taught, in order to maintain a class stratified society. The Marxist view of society is built on the theory that the ruling class holds power over the subject class through the capitalist system. Without this domination, capitalism cannot survive, and so every institution within society serves to support it. The most effective way to uphold the power of the ruling class is not through physical force, which provokes resistance and risks overthrow and revolution. Instead, it is through the ruling class ideology, which causes people to accept the injustice in their hearts and minds, and therefore prevents any challenge to the capitalist system. Louis Althusser, a French Marxist, believed that the ruling class ideology is vital to capitalist society, because it causes people to accept their place in society. He said that in the past, the church was the main institution for ideological control, but with the decline of religious influence, it is now the main function of the education system to transmit it to the next generation. However, in order
Claire Jones
Education is a vital system in most societies, and is compulsory for all children up to the age of 16 in Britain. There are many different ideas as to why education is so important and the functions it fulfills within society, some more positive than others. Although some people say that education is only intended to teach the individual enough knowledge to pass exams and start a career, most sociologists believe it has functions which go beyond this surface view and in some way affect or serve society as a whole as well as the individual. An ideology is false view of society which is presented to the members of that society in order to maintain stability within it. Beyond the formal curriculum which students learn in education, Marxists believe an ideology is also taught, in order to maintain a class stratified society. The Marxist view of society is built on the theory that the ruling class holds power over the subject class through the capitalist system. Without this domination, capitalism cannot survive, and so every institution within society serves to support it. The most effective way to uphold the power of the ruling class is not through physical force, which provokes resistance and risks overthrow and revolution. Instead, it is through the ruling class ideology, which causes people to accept the injustice in their hearts and minds, and therefore prevents any challenge to the capitalist system. Louis Althusser, a French Marxist, believed that the ruling class ideology is vital to capitalist society, because it causes people to accept their place in society. He said that in the past, the church was the main institution for ideological control, but with the decline of religious influence, it is now the main function of the education system to transmit it to the next generation. However, in order