Soc 101, Series 14 1 of 2 Sociology of Education – Reproduction Theory 1. Capitalist market requires large, non-homogeneous, non organized labor force lacking control of means of production. Education system needs to produce functional people fitting parameters; economy produces education system / economy produces people. System needs to assure fragmentation into antagonistic groups 2. Separation of labor from means of production; Social structure in which there is no alternative to selling labor 3. Income inequality rooted in ownership of capital and means of production; class relationships powerful influence; alienation of labor from personal function of self satisfaction 4. Meritocracy perpetuated through short job ladders and economic barriers; social class appearance and demeanor, performance on standardized testing, override intelligence in most instances; job hierarchy determined by operational skills rather than cognitive capacities. BUT -- test scores, skewed by the system, favor advancement based on economic class origin. Technocratic matching of individuals to jobs / educational opportunity dependent on meritocratic processes; facilitates selective enrollment 5. Social relationships of work mirrored in school and vice versa. Stability maintained by replicating patterns of social distance and social solidarity. Schools’ job: a) produce labor force to translate into production profit; cognitive and technical skills b) legitimizes economic inequality through visible and obvious hierarchical differences and processes for advancement c) labeling and rewarding of personal characteristics as part of hierarchicalSoc 101, Series 14 2 of 2 staffing d) status distinctions rewarded, further fragmenting economic class identity 6. Is process overt or covert? Or both? If overt, who’s call the
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