Liberal Schooling Ideals

In capitalist society, the primary role is the first, and in many respects is in contradiction to the others. Bowles and Gintis here disagree with Illich, who ducks the question of production. They point out it is production that keeps a society going in the most basic way, and education must take notice of this.

How are the other aspects in contradiction to this goal? Social inequality, according to Marxists, is not something that just happens or is caused by innate inferiorities. It stems from the exploitative nature of the productive system. Consequently, in preparing workers for their positions in society schools are reinforcing social inequality rather than removing it.

Similarly with an individual's capabilities. Capabilities can be developed, so long as they stay within boundaries. The capability to develop beyond an exploitative society is not one. However, as with all such cases, the contradiction here can lend to unusual results - a stress on humanitarianism can often lead to challenges to the whole system.