Education- Functionalist Theory And The New Right

Question 0

Role allocation

Answer 0

Davis and Moore- assessing individuals abilities to match them to a job, see education as selection and role allocation, argue that inequality is necessary so most important roles are filled with most talented people

Question 1

Social solidarity

Answer 1

Durkheim- individuals need to feel as a part of a “body” or a community, without this cooperation would be impossible, the education system helps create this, transmitting shared beliefs and values, it creates a community spirit

Question 2

Secondary socialisation

Answer 2

Parsons- family and society operate on different principles and this is a behaviour positively reinforced by the society, school does this by teaching norms and values and socially accepted behaviour, let’s children that were deprived of this learn the values of society (eg manners)

Question 3

Meritocracy

Answer 3

Parsons- everyone is given an equal opportunity and individuals achieve rewards through their own effort and ability

Question 4

Universalistic values

Answer 4

Parsons- values which are found in almost every society and are applicable to everyone, this is what children learn in school to be socially and academically accepted

Question 5

Selection

Answer 5

Davis and Moore- marketisation created competition between schools therefore this this made schools select students by their exam results, this lead to inequality between social class, ethnicities and gender

Question 6

Specialist skills

Answer 6

Durkheim- modern industrial economies have a complex division of labor, this promotes social solidarity and specialist knowledge, education system teaches this, this creates aspirations and goals for society