AQA A Level Sociology topic essays: EDUCATION Page 5

Item A Although Marxist sociologists essentially agree with functionalists that the education system teaches people norms and values and sifts and sorts them into their future roles, they argue that the education system does not work in everyone’s interests but instead supports capitalism and the interests of the ruling class.

Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the education system could be said to support capitalism. (10 marks)

A first way is clearly identified, drawn from a hook in the item One way in which the education system supports capitalism is (“sifting and sorting”) and by reproducing inequalities in society, thereby producing the explained and analysed in bourgeoisie and proletariat of the next generation. For some detail. Marxists, meritocracy is a myth. Yes, the education system “sifts and sorts” people into their social roles but, for the most part, this is a straightforward process of ensuring that the children of working-class parents leave school and do Good use of sociological working-class jobs, and the children of the owners of the concepts. means of production leave school and own the means of production themselves. The myth of meritocracy manages to create an illusion of fairness about this system, keeping the workers pacified and hardworking. School produces this effect in many ways: first, admissions policies ensure that Good use of children from high-income backgrounds tend to go to higher- practical/empirical examples performing schools (whether because they pay for an and explanations. independent school, pay for coaching to pass a test to go to a selective grammar school, because they live in a wealthier catchment area or because their parents play the system or a combination of all of these). Second, a number of factors mean that, for the most part, children from high-income backgrounds achieve better results than those from low- income backgrounds. Finally, even when both have achieved a Some evaluation but tightly high grade, the bourgeois child is much more likely to get to focused on the question. the prestigious university and move into the highest-paid jobs. Some question whether this is still true today, as universities come under a lot of pressure to widen participation, but statistics mostly bear out the Marxist claim. The second way is again clearly described and linked to A second way the education system supports capitalism is by a hook in the item “(norms and ensuring a correspondence between school and the capitalist values”). workplace, preparing children to be exploited as wage-labour. While functionalists might see this positively, as teaching Bowles and Gintis’ study is children the norms and values of society and preparing them explained but in a way that for life, Marxists see it is as producing a docile and obedient keeps it tightly focused on the workforce. This correspondence can be seen in various features of school and workplaces, such as the hierarchy, the Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted www.tutor2u.net/sociology Page 6 AQA A Level Sociology topic essays: EDUCATION

question, rather than being too descriptive. strict timings, the fragmentation of work and the systems of rewards and sanctions. Many point out that children at school today often seem anything but passive and docile (sometimes Again there is some evaluation rather unruly!) and workplaces have changed a great deal and this is tied neatly back to since Bowles and Gintis wrote about this in 1976. However, the question at the end. contemporary changes to schools may well be in part to meet the changes in the workplace and are therefore still seeking to serve the interests of capitalism.

[388 words] Mark Band 8-10

ExaminerThis was comfortably in the top band and is quite a detailed answer. Comments: The candidate has identified two clear and distinct ways as asked and has presented them in two clear, detailed and well- argued paragraphs.

You will often find that the “hooks” in the item lead the candidate towards particular responses, but do not provide the answers themselves. Some application is required, for example here taking two functionalist roles of the education system and developing them into ways the system benefits capitalism (and therefore Marxist views). This is done neatly here and the development from the item is clear.

If the student had gone straight into Althusser and ideological state apparatus, etc. they might well have been able to get the marks, but they would need to show that this was developed from something in the item (norms and values would work). There is no need to directly quote the item, but don’t expect the examiner to make the links for you.

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