Education - Functionalism

Question 1

What was Durkheim’s view?

Answer 1

Education was for:
Aiding social solidarity - Learning about history content and how war came about. Taught to be proud of out heritage.
Develop specialist skills - Education teaches young people skills like maths and science to help when put into division of labour

Question 2

What was Parson’s view?

Answer 2

Secondary socialisation creates value consensus
School is a ‘bridge’ between family and society - Particularistic standards over Universalistic standards
Status is achieved not ascribed
Equality of opportunity
A shift from collectivism to individualism
Learn through hidden curriculum - ways to behave in society

Question 3

What was Davis and Moore’s view?

Answer 3

Importance of role allocation.
One of the main functions of the educational system is to sift and sort young people according to their abilities. Putting the right people into the right jobs
Inequality is necessary so roles in society are filled by the most talented.

Question 4

What was Hargreaves’s view?

Answer 4

Schools place too much emphasis on the individual, but should be promoting social solidarity - focusing to much on acedemic achievements could lead to rebelling against school and it’s values.
Not enough on the duties and responsibilities that the individual should have toward group life
Fail to produce sense of dignity = subcultures

Question 5

What does SETS stand for?

Answer 5

Social solidarity
Economy
Transmits norms and values
Social selection

Question 6

What are the key concepts?

Answer 6

SETS
Secondary socialisation
Particularistic over Universalistic
Achieved and ascribed
Meritocracy
Value consensus