Broken Promises-school reform in retrospect (4)
 What is modern liberal
educational theory?
 What exactly is the
theory underlying the
notion of education as
panacea?
 Two strands of thought:
Democratic vs Technocratic-Meritocratic school
>democratic approach concerns the compatibility of the
functions a school is expected to perform
>techno-merit approach concerns the capacity of
schools to perform their expected functions
 Educational systems must
fulfill at least 3 functions:
1. Schools must help integrate
youth into the various
occupational, political,
familial and other adult
roles required by an
expanding economy and a
stable polity
2. Giving each individual a chance to compete openly for
privileges is both efficient and desirable
3. Education is a major component of promoting the
psychic and emotional growth of the individual
*the developmental function of education
 The integrative (1), egalitarian (2)
and developmental (3) functions
are all compatible and mutually
supportive
 The occupational roles in
capitalist society are best filled by
individuals who have achieved
the highest possible levels of
personal development
 Personal development is
economically productive
 A free and universal
school system can render
the opportunities for selfdevelopment,
independent of race,
ethnic origins, class
background and sex
 Rather than being
necessary, the
integrative, egalitarian
and developmental
functions are simply
compatible
 According to this view, the economy is a technical
system requiring levels of technical competence that
are inherent to a person or population and cannot be
developed through education
 Contrasting Horace’s Mann’s views(p55)
 Social control ideology