4 The Role of Education Flashcards
Functionalist Perspective on Education
Conservative view of society
Society has basic needs, needs for social order. To survive, needs solidarity by sharing same norms and values
Institutions like education provide positive functions for society and individuals. Helping socialising and creating a social solidarity
Durkheim: Solidarity and Skills
Promotes social solidarity
Education prepared young people for work
Parsons: Socialisation and meritocracy
Secondary socialisation: Outside of family, education bridges between family and wider society. Socialises into a meritocratic society
Individual achievement
Equal opportunity
School in miniature: Smaller version of wider society
Davis and Moore: Role Allocation
People are more talented than others
Work roles are more complex and require greater skills
‘Sifts and sorts’ individuals for the right jobs in society
Evaluation of Functionalism
Marxists argues values are transmitted by education are society’s shared values
Interactionalists argue that view is too deterministic and that not all pupils accept the schools values
Person’s ascribed characteristics are more importantant in determining their income later in life rather than achievement in school
Functionalism and New Right compared
Both believe that some people are naturally more talented than others
Both agree education should run on meritocratic principle open competition
Believe education should socialise pupils into shared values and provide a sense of national identity
Chubb and Moe: Giving consumer choice
Data shows pupils that pupils from low-income families do 5% better in private schools. Suggests that state education is not meritocratic.
State failed to created equal opportunity because it does not have to respond to pupils needs
Private schools deliver higher quality education because they’re answerable to the parents
Parents and communities cannot do anything about falling schools while the schools are controlled by the state
Has the state any role in education?
Create the framework for competition between schools (league tables and setting national curriculum)
Ensure that schools transmit society’s shared culture through a curriculum that emphasises a shared identity
Evaluation of the New Right
Critics argue that low standards in some state schools are result to inadequate funding
Gewirtz -Benefits middle class
Marxists argue education imposes the culture of ruling class
Marxists perspective on education
Two classes: Ruling class and subject class
Capitalist own means of production and make profits by exploiting the labour of working class
Creates class conflict that could threaten stability of capitalism or overthrow it
Social institutions reproduce and play an ideological role by persuading exploited workers that inequality is justified and acceptable
Evaluation of Marxists
Disagree among themselves
Feminists argue it reproduces capitalism and patriarchy
Postmodernists argue Marxism is out of date
Claim that they see inequality, there is really diversity and choice
PMs argue class divisions are no longer important in a post-Fordes economic system
Romanticising: Willis has been criticised for romantising the lads and project being unrepresentated
