Social Postures

Date: 5 November 2009

Session topics: Modernity, essay writing, education and inequality

Three things that I learned:

These are all about theories of inequality and education

1. Ivan Illich posits there is a “hidden curriculum” which consists of: custodial care, distribution of people among occupational roles, instruction in the dominant values, teaching of socially approved skills and knowledge, also that schooling inculcates ‘passive consumption’
2. Basil Bernstein’s main thesis is that children come to school with a “language code”, either “restricted” (used to direct language without abstract explanation – prevalent in the working class) or “elaborated” (where ideas are explained more fully – prevalent in middle class)
3. Pierre Bourdieu carries across his theory of “cultural reproduction” and “cultural capital” to education – schools reinforce variations in cultural values

One thing that I learned that I will be able to use in the future:

I am still unsure about: Is Bourdieu’s theory simply a synthesis of Bernstein and Illich?

Interesting issues: This stuff on inequality is so new – all of these writers published in the 1970s

Ideas for action:

• Finish research for USW essay and finalise topic (currently ‘Are British people free under New Labour?”
• Create essay plan
• Annotate research and formulate provisional thesis

Feedback from others:

What can be used in the Learning Review: Change in gear re: essay, feeling a lot more focussed.