Toward a critical pedagogy: The limits of traditional Marxist theory in education

The intent is to examine some of the theoretical limitations of educational analyses which primarily focus on the capitalist economy and its dominance over the education system. The author selects two traditional Marxist analyses--Nicos Poulantzas, and Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis--to develop a framework of capitalist development and show how the education system is ultimately linked to this process. By examining the imperative connections between the capitalist economy and the education system, the author questions if these predominantly economic analyses thoroughly provide for a realistic grounding for developing alternative structures through which the education system can be reformed. The author refers to Michael Apple to suggest that although theories aimed at uncovering economic connections are essential to understanding how the education system operates, they fall short in developing a critique of what occurs within the school itself. It is with an understanding of both the external connections between the school and the economy as well as the internal tensions within the school that educational reforms aimed at correcting some of the implications of capitalist development can be reached.