Consensus Theories & Education (Functionalist Perspective) Flashcards
What is meritocracy?
Meritocracy is a system which expresses the idea that people should be rewarded based on their abilities and efforts.
What is meant by the term value consensus?
Value consensus describes the need for societies to have a common set if beliefs and principles to work with ad towards.
What were Durkheim’s beliefs?
- Argued that education served two main functions:
1. To bring people together and achieve social solidarity.
2. To provide skills and knowledge required in the work place.
What did Durkheim view education as?
Schools are a “society in a miniature”.
Schools are a small scale version of the wider society in which people live and work.
What does Durkheim mean when talking about the function of social solidarity?
- People need to feel part of a community.
- Schools are a mini society preparing us for life in a wider society.
- Schools create a sense of community.
What does Durkheim mean when talking about the function of specialist skills?
- It describes modern economies as a complex division of labour.
- Education promotes social solidarity - people working together.
- Education teaches individuals specialist skills needed to play part in the division of labour (work). Every product made requires input from different specialists - example: factories.
What are criticisms of Durkheim’s theory/beliefs?
- Marxist View - Doesn’t serve the interests of the whole society but just those of the ruling class.
- Hargreaves - Education emphasises individuality not solidarity through competition through the exam system.
- Education does not teach specialist skills adequately.
- Durkheim assumes societies have a shared culture that can be transmitted through the education system, but many societies are diverse and it is debatable if there is a single culture that schools can promote.
What did Davis and Moore believe all students had?
Davis and Moore believed that all individuals had the same opportunities to exploit their talent, work hard, gain qualifications and end up in high paying, high status positions.
What did Davis and Moore believe society and education both was?
Meritocratic.
Meritocratic - describes a society whereby jobs and pay are allocated based on an individuals talent and achievements rather than social status.
Example - if someone could not get a high paying position, it is because they did not work hard enough.
What did Davis and Moore strongly believe within the education system?
They argued that by putting higher rewards on more important jobs, ambitious individuals compete and thus motivate each other to get better skills and knowledge. As a result of this competition, society would end up with the best experts in every field.
What are criticisms of Davis and Moore?
- Marxist sociologists argue that meritocracy in both education and wider society is a myth.
- People have different life chances and opportunities open to them depending on which class, ethnicity and gender they belong too. - In real life, quite often, less important jobs get much higher rewards than essential positions.
- Football players and pop singers earn much more than nurses and teachers. - Davis and Moore fail to include people with disabilities and learning disorders in their theory.
- SEN, Physical disabilities.
What does Parsons believe the school is?
The “focal socialising agency” acting as a bridge between the family and wider society.
What does Parsons believe the school and society both judge us by?
Universalistic and impersonal standards.
What does Parsons believe the family and society have in common with the child?
Child is judged by particularistic standards and the child’s status is ascribed, similar to society how a persons status is largely achieved and ascribed.
How does Parsons view school?
Prepares us to move from the family to wider society as schools and society are both based on meritocratic principles.
