Hidden Curriculum

Functionalists views on the hidden curriculum...

According to Functionalists, the hidden curriculum teaches children- 1) The value of achievement and individualism: Parsons states that these are major values which are transmitted to pupils in schools. In schools, young people are required to achieve as individuals. High achievement is rewarded with praise and valuable qualifications. In this way young people are taught to value individual achievement which prepares them to achieve as individuals in later life. 2)School as a microcosm- Durkheim argues that school acts as a social microcosm. Through school children learn how to mix and interact with other individuals outside their families, which enables them to be able to deal with individual's in the future in wider society. Furthermore, children also learn how to follow school rules through receiving rewards and punishments, and to understand that they are for the benefit of all. This enables social order to be maintained in wider society

Marxists views on the hidden curriculum...

According to Marxists, the hidden curriculum- 1) Creates the future workforce with the necessary attributes, Bowles and Gintis argue that schools produce a subordinate, well-disciplined workers who will submit to control from above and take orders rather than question them. Schools do this by rewarding conformity, obedience, and hard work. 2) Encourages young people to accept their position: Althusser argues that the hidden curriculum operates to socialise children into accepting, without question, their occupational position as natural and inevitable. 3) Transmits positive messages about capitalism: The content of classroom teaching subconsciously transmits positive messages about the more negative aspects of capitalism.

Functionalist views on the hidden curriculum-

According to functionalists, the hidden curriculum teaches children-

Feminists views on the hidden curriculum...

Feminists see the hidden curriculum as a main source of gender socialisation in schools. The feminist argument is that the hidden curriculum does this in a number of different ways- 1) Through resources- Feminists have traditionally claimed that too many children's books and school text books portray women as dependent on men. Best research found evidence of gender stereotyping in children's school books. They found that despite the existence of a few non-sexist books, little had changes since the 1970s a large proportion of males and females were still being portrayed in gender specific roles. 2) Through students- Many female students are made to feel uncomfortable in the presence of male students when studying certain subjects. 3) Through teachers expectations and attitudes- Heaton and Lawson argue that many teachers still possess strongly sexist ideas about certain tasks within the classroom. 4) Through a patriarchal curriculum- Despite the introduction of the national Curriculum, many feminists argue that what is taught in schools still creates gender inequalities in education. 5) Through a lack of senior role models- Although there are more female teachers in England and Wales than male teachers, men still outnumber women at the senior management levels of schools and colleges.

What is the hidden curriculum?

The hidden curriculum is a term used to refer to the things learned in school that are not openly taught in lessons or examined in tests. The hidden curriculum is a type of socialisation which involves persuading people, either consciously or subconsciously, to think and behave in particular ways. It included the unwritten rules which guide and direct school behaviour.