1. Functions and Role of Education for Society Flashcards
What are the 4 functions for society that the education system performs?
- Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity (Durkheim)
- Providing a bridge between the family and society (Parsons)
- Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force
- Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore)
Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity:
What did Durkheim say schools are?
Durkheim said ‘schools are society in miniature’
Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity:
What are the two ways schools pass on the culture of society?
- The formal curriculum
- The hidden curriculum
Define formal curriculum?
Formal curriculum = the formal subjects taught in the classroom e.g history, English, geography. These are written and have defined outcomes which are often examined
Define the Hidden curriculum?
Hidden curriculum = learning that is unwritten and occurs informally or even unintentionally. Social and cultural messages that are passed on while in school.
Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity:
What do the hidden and formal curriculum build?
Together these build social solidarity by censuring a shared culture and values (value consensus)
Providing a bridge between the family and society:
Why does Parsons believe schools are important?
Parsons sees schools as important places of secondary socialisation, increasingly taking over from the family and building a bridge between home and society
Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What values are learnt in the home?
Particularistic values
Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What values are learnt in society?
Universalistic values
Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What status is given to you in the home?
Ascribed status
Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What status is given to you in society?
Achieved status - based on meritocracy
Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
What is vital for a successful economy?
The development of ‘Human capital’
Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
What do high positions in global economic rankings rely on?
High positions rely on excellent education and a trained and qualified labour force to increase production.
Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
Why is investing in education prioritised?
Its prioritised for the next generations knowledge and skills that are being developed which is necessary to provide a properly trained, qualified and flexible labour force
Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
What is the division of labour?
Division of labour = making sure the best and most qualified people end up in jobs which require the greatest skills and responsibilities
Define Human Capital?
Human Capital = the knowledge and skills possessed by a workforce that increased the workforces value and usefulness to employers. / What they know and can do
Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
What is the education system a means of?
The education system is a means of sifting and selecting people for different level roles in the job market, ensuring the most talented and qualified are given the most important jobs (role allocation)
Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
What happens in a meritocratic society (access)
In a meritocratic society access to jobs, wealth, status and power depend on education qualifications, skills and talents
Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
How are the same opportunities now provided for everyone?
With a free compulsory national education system the same opportunities are provided for everyone
Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
What is the problem of the equality of educational opportunity?
Inequalities in society are legitimised (made to seem fair and just) and those who fail only have themselves to blame.
The New Right perspective:
What does their position on social policy reflect?
their position on social policy reflects functionalist perspectives
The New Right perspective:
What does The New Right argue?
The New Right argues educational policy should not be concerned with promoting equality or equality of opportunity but training the future workforce for various positions.
The New Right perspective:
Where should the most and least able be guided?
The most able should be guided into the most difficult and important positions while the least able are prepared for lower level employment
The New Right perspective:
What do they believe education should do? Socialise…
They believe education should socialise young people into collective values and responsible citizenship. Building social cohesion and social solidarity to ensure social stability and unity.
Criticisms of functionalism:
What do functionalists emphasise?
They emphasise the positive effects of the education system
Criticisms of functionalism:
What do functionalists ignore?
-Ignore the aspects of education that might be dysfunctional and benefit some groups over others
-Ignore conflict in education system and wider society
-Ignores negative aspects pf educations system
-Ignores view that education is meritocratic
Criticisms of functionalism:
What do functionalists assume?
Functionalists assume education succeeds in socialising individuals into the system
Criticisms of functionalism:
View on private schools?
Ignores private school education which gives the wealthy more opportunity to select schools for children.
Criticisms of functionalism:
Argument against schools providing a trained workforce?
-Education doesn’t provide skills needed in the economy
-Even if societies need education to provide workforce with skills doesn’t mean it will succeed in doing this
