Topic Two (1.2): Marxist Views on Education

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

Here we consider the Marxist conflict view of education. You will see that as a structural theory, Marxists identify many similar points to functionalists, but interpret them in very different ways. This makes it easy to use one of these theories as evaluation for the other. Marxists view the purpose of education as being to reproduce and legitimate class inequality and to ensure a supply of compliant workers for capitalism.

Read & Make Notes Icon.png Read and Make Notes

Read pages 232 to 239 in the textbook and carefully make notes on the topic.

Skills Icon.png Tasks

  • Watch the video below and make detailed notes:

WATCH – The Marxist View of Education (YouTube) Links to an external site.

  • Complete a mind map on Marxist theory. Make sure you clearly include and highlight neo-Marxist arguments.
  • Look back at your notes from the AS course and consider how Marxist views of education reflect broader Marxist views on society. Write a paragraph explaining this.
  • Compare this to functionalism and highlight the similarities and differences.

Glossary Icon.png Terminology

Make sure you understand all the key terms covered in this topic. You may like to make flashcards of key terms now, to help you with revision later on.