Bowles and Gintis' theory explains the correlation between the school/learning environment and the employment/labor environment. Administrators, teachers, and students imitate the roles of managers, supervisors and laborers in the workplace. Just as students have no control over their curriculum, laborers have no control over what they're asked to do at work. There is competition among students in academic areas just as people in the workplace compete for promotions and such. And students are rewarded by their grades, just as workers are rewarded through paychecks and bonuses.

However, theoretically, not all students are offered the same "training" in the school setting in regards to preparation for the workplace. Bowles and Gintis believe that it depends on the parents' social status. The children of low-wage workers will be taught to answer to authority, and just do what they're told. But children of "white collar" workers might be encouraged to "boss rather than be bossed."