Marx and Education

Explaining the differential distribution of school engagement among 10 to 15-year old Canadian students: do ethnicity and parental immigration status make a difference?

“…As such, the concept of alienation should be closely tied to the area of learning. Specifically, the alienation of students has been linked to two aspects of Marx's 9 concept of alienation: alienation from one's species-being and alienation of the individual from other human beings (Small, 2005).…”

“…Using Marx's theories on the labourer, the learner who acquires skills and knowledge is similar to the worker who produces a commodity. The systematic alienation of the student from their own learning, through the hierarchical distribution of authority within schools and a disconnection between the student and the curriculum gives the student very little ownership of their scholastic activities (Small, 2005). When work, or here, scholastic activity, does not provide satisfaction the student would expect to receive for his or her effort because of structure that dominates and guides the learning process, the student becomes alienated (Gereluk, 1974).…”

“…Most important to understand when applying the concept of alienation to schooling is to understand that alienation is not a state of mind but a state of the whole person (Small, 2005). The concept of alienation as it has been applied to students and schooling has been criticized for the manner in which a problem is identified.…”

“…The elimination of the alienation problem will only happen through a real change of the situation. It is not just the student alone, nor the classroom that needs to make adjustments; rather, a radical transformation of education is needed to address the alienation problem (Small, 2005).…”

“…Most interestingly, Marx asserts that it is the workers who are most directly confronted with alienation. Therefore, in terms of schooling, it is the normal and thriving student, rather than the disconnected or dropout youth who is subject to alienation (Small, 2005).…”