1. Functions and Role of Education for Society

Question 1

What are the 4 functions for society that the education system performs?

Answer 1

1. Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity (Durkheim)
2. Providing a bridge between the family and society (Parsons)
3. Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force
4. Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore)

Question 2

Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity:
What did Durkheim say schools are?

Answer 2

Durkheim said ‘schools are society in miniature’

Question 3

Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity:
What are the two ways schools pass on the culture of society?

Answer 3

1. The formal curriculum
2. The hidden curriculum

Question 4

Define formal curriculum?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Define the Hidden curriculum?

Answer 5

Hidden curriculum = learning that is unwritten and occurs informally or even unintentionally. Social and cultural messages that are passed on while in school.

Question 6

Passing on the culture of your society and building social solidarity:
What do the hidden and formal curriculum build?

Answer 6

Together these build social solidarity by censuring a shared culture and values (value consensus)

Question 7

Providing a bridge between the family and society:
Why does Parsons believe schools are important?

Answer 7

Parsons sees schools as important places of secondary socialisation, increasingly taking over from the family and building a bridge between home and society

Question 8

Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What values are learnt in the home?

Answer 8

Particularistic values

Question 9

Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What values are learnt in society?

Answer 9

Universalistic values

Question 10

Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What status is given to you in the home?

Answer 10

Ascribed status

Question 11

Providing a bridge between the family and society:
What status is given to you in society?

Answer 11

Achieved status - based on meritocracy

Question 12

Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
What is vital for a successful economy?

Answer 12

The development of ‘Human capital’

Question 13

Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
What do high positions in global economic rankings rely on?

Answer 13

High positions rely on excellent education and a trained and qualified labour force to increase production.

Question 14

Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
Why is investing in education prioritised?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Developing human capital - a trained and qualified labour force:
What is the division of labour?

Answer 15

Division of labour = making sure the best and most qualified people end up in jobs which require the greatest skills and responsibilities

Question 16

Define Human Capital?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
What is the education system a means of?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
What happens in a meritocratic society (access)

Answer 18

In a meritocratic society access to jobs, wealth, status and power depend on education qualifications, skills and talents

Question 19

Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
How are the same opportunities now provided for everyone?

Answer 19

With a free compulsory national education system the same opportunities are provided for everyone

Question 20

Role allocation in a meritocratic society (Davis and Moore):
What is the problem of the equality of educational opportunity?

Answer 20

Inequalities in society are legitimised (made to seem fair and just) and those who fail only have themselves to blame.

Question 21

The New Right perspective:
What does their position on social policy reflect?

Answer 21

their position on social policy reflects functionalist perspectives

Question 22

The New Right perspective:
What does The New Right argue?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

The New Right perspective:
Where should the most and least able be guided?

Answer 23

The most able should be guided into the most difficult and important positions while the least able are prepared for lower level employment

Question 24

The New Right perspective:
What do they believe education should do? Socialise…

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Criticisms of functionalism:
What do functionalists emphasise?

Answer 25

They emphasise the positive effects of the education system

Question 26

Criticisms of functionalism:
What do functionalists ignore?

Answer 26

-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

Question 27

Criticisms of functionalism:
What do functionalists assume?

Answer 27

Functionalists assume education succeeds in socialising individuals into the system

Question 28

Criticisms of functionalism:
View on private schools?

Answer 28

Ignores private school education which gives the wealthy more opportunity to select schools for children.

Question 29

Criticisms of functionalism:
Argument against schools providing a trained workforce?

Answer 29

-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