ABSTRACT
Social and political education would require approaching the study of often controversial social and political issues from a variety of perspectives, from the conservative to the radical. S. Bowles and H. Gintis, for example, argue that, through the 'hidden curriculum' of schooling, students learn the basic attitudes and dispositions which are necessary in capitalist organizations, and that social class is by far the most important determinant of educational qualifications and post-school success. Racial inequality in education has increasingly been explained by reference to the concept of 'institutionalized racism'. The education system, and other parts of the institutional superstructure of capitalist society, is seen as a relatively autonomous 'site of struggle' with the potential for the production of forms of consciousness which could challenge capitalism. However, there may be limitations on the extent to which equal opportunities in education can be achieved given the present organization of society.
