UNIT SIX: SAMUEL BOWLES AND HERBERT GINTIS: SCHOOLING IN CAPITALIST AMERICA
- Basic Plan for unit six: In the 11 days available we will look at the central claim of Bowles and Gintis: that the capitalist
economy exercises a decisive power over the schools and that any school reform that does not understand
that power and that social structure is doomed to failure. We will read selections from three chapters which will clarify and
allow Bowles and Gintis to make their central arguments to us.
- An overview of Bowles and Gintis' main theses and arguments. Bowles and Gintis are not easy to read. They themselves acknowledge that
their theses sound odd, and not what one suspects in a book about education. Further, they also admit that in order to make
their theses, they must do some rather technical economic analysis. I highly recommend this short guide or overview of their positions that appear in
the selected readings. They may well orient your thinking to make the reading easier. It would be important to read thisBEFORE reading Bowles and Gintis.
- Readings for the unit on Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis:
- Assignments for the Bowles and Gintis unit.
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Bob Corbett
corbetre@webster.edu