Correspondence theory



Bowles and Gintis

correspondence theory- Bowles and Gintis claim that there is a close correspondence between the social relationships in the classroom and those in the workplace. This correspondence is essential for social reproduction- the reproduction of new generations of workers appropriately schooled to accept thier roles in capitalist society.

School and workplace- Schools, like the wider society, are based on hierachies-layers of authority. Teachers give orders, pupils are expected to obey. Pupils have little control over thier work or over the curriculum that they follow. This corresponds to thier later experience of a lack of control within the workplace. Schools reward punctuality, obedience and hard work; they discourage creativity, independance and critical awareness. This is directly linked to how employers treat employees in the work place.

Basically all of this means that the way you are made to think and learn in school is how you will think and learn in the workplace but also that if you are from a higher class background you are more likely to be noticed by teachers and get more attention which can result in these people having a higher chance to succeed and get a better job than a lower class student.