A Level Sociology Education AQA Practice Exam

What concept explains the idea of a hidden curriculum in Marxist theory?

1. Explicit educational goals

2. Teaching acceptance of hierarchy

3. Encouraging creativity in learning

4. Fostering democratic participation

The correct answer is: Teaching acceptance of hierarchy

The concept that explains the idea of a hidden curriculum in Marxist theory is closely tied to the teaching of acceptance of hierarchy. In this context, the hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten and implicit lessons that students learn through their educational experience, which go beyond the formal curriculum. This includes social norms, values, and expectations that often reflect and reinforce the existing social stratification and power dynamics within society. In Marxist theory, the educational system is viewed as a means of perpetuating the dominant ideology and maintaining the status quo. This means that students are not only being taught academic subjects but are also being conditioned to accept and internalize the social hierarchies that exist in the workplace and society at large. For example, by establishing relationships of authority between teachers and students, schools can instill values of obedience and conformity, which are essential for functioning within the capitalist system. The other concepts mentioned, such as explicit educational goals, encouraging creativity in learning, and fostering democratic participation, do not align with the central idea of a hidden curriculum within Marxist analysis. These elements could be present in educational practices but do not directly relate to the critique of power structures and social inequality that the hidden curriculum aims to highlight in a Marxist framework.