The History Boys
Education – what is it for?
In “The History Boys” two different approaches to education are presented. Irwin represents the functional approach, his teaching methods are traditional and structured, focused solely on passing the Oxbridge entrance examinations. Hector teaches the life enrichment approach in his General Studies class, his teaching methods are unconventional and spontaneous, Hector is not interested in exams and believes in learning for its own sake. Hector undermines the values of the educational system by refusing to ‘play the game’ and teaches a love of literature and language, which Irwin reduces to gobbets to impress the examiners (Hescott 2013).
The functional approach to education is examination based in order to be a …show more content…
This idea is becoming increasingly philosophically problematic and morally questionable. In an unequal society, genuine equality of educational opportunity is unattainable. Functional meritocracy assumes that hard work delivers rewards by achieving good examination results, resulting in a high status, well paid job. It does not account for social class, a student who has come from a middle class family is more likely to achieve better grades due to the resources available to them, therefore students from lower class families remain the ‘undeserving poor’, which fuels the theory that educational system transfers the ideology of higher social classes (Goldthorpe, Jackson …show more content…
To be able to succeed in society today, good examination results are required, particularly those students from lower class backgrounds. Knowledge is a privilege of the upper classes, who are able to attend university to read literature, the classics or to study art. It is a reality of the lower classes that most do not have this option due to high and increasing tuition fees.
My personal belief is that regardless of class, everyone should have the opportunity to learn the value of education, separate from the examination process which, in an unequal society is unrealistic. A balance between the two approaches to achieve a more holistic experience of education, could serve as a function to pass the necessary examinations whilst attempting to ignite a passion for learning. I conclude my essay with a quote from American philosopher John Dewey,
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life
In “The History Boys” two different approaches to education are presented. Irwin represents the functional approach, his teaching methods are traditional and structured, focused solely on passing the Oxbridge entrance examinations. Hector teaches the life enrichment approach in his General Studies class, his teaching methods are unconventional and spontaneous, Hector is not interested in exams and believes in learning for its own sake. Hector undermines the values of the educational system by refusing to ‘play the game’ and teaches a love of literature and language, which Irwin reduces to gobbets to impress the examiners (Hescott 2013).
The functional approach to education is examination based in order to be a …show more content…
This idea is becoming increasingly philosophically problematic and morally questionable. In an unequal society, genuine equality of educational opportunity is unattainable. Functional meritocracy assumes that hard work delivers rewards by achieving good examination results, resulting in a high status, well paid job. It does not account for social class, a student who has come from a middle class family is more likely to achieve better grades due to the resources available to them, therefore students from lower class families remain the ‘undeserving poor’, which fuels the theory that educational system transfers the ideology of higher social classes (Goldthorpe, Jackson …show more content…
To be able to succeed in society today, good examination results are required, particularly those students from lower class backgrounds. Knowledge is a privilege of the upper classes, who are able to attend university to read literature, the classics or to study art. It is a reality of the lower classes that most do not have this option due to high and increasing tuition fees.
My personal belief is that regardless of class, everyone should have the opportunity to learn the value of education, separate from the examination process which, in an unequal society is unrealistic. A balance between the two approaches to achieve a more holistic experience of education, could serve as a function to pass the necessary examinations whilst attempting to ignite a passion for learning. I conclude my essay with a quote from American philosopher John Dewey,
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life