EDUCATION: functionalist theory & the new right Flashcards
What 2 roles did Durkheim claim the eduation system played?
1) Social solidarity
2) Specialist skills
What did Durkheim mean by social solidarity? (4 points)
Education binds people together, without it society would collapse.
Education creates cultural identity by teaching common history & culture.
It teaches pupils they have a common purpose.
It provides vital secondary socialisation to create a functioning and cooperative society.
What did Durkheim mean by specialist skills?
Education equips young people with speacialist skills needed to participate in work.
What 2 roles did Davis & Moore claim education played?
1) Role allocation
2) Selection
What did Davis & Moore mean by role allocation & selection?
Education selects and allocates individuals to their future work roles.
For society to function adequately the most talented individuals need to be allocated to the hardest most important jobs.
The meritocracy allows everyone to compete equally.
What 2 roles does education play according to Parsons?
1) Secondary socialisation
2) Meritocracy
What did Parsons believe about secondary socialisation?
Education teaches universalistic standards that primary socialisation cannot teach.
Education acts as a bridge between the family & wider society.
What did Parsons believe about meritocracy in education?
Society is based on individual achievement. Status is achieved through the individuals own effort.
Everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential.
What did Chubb & Moe’s findings suggest about meritocracy?
Pupils from low income backgrounds do significantly better when in private education.
This suggests state education is not entirely meritocratic.
What was the solution Chubb & Moe came up with to create a more meritocratic system?
Families should be given vouchers to spend on education at a school of their choice.
Schools have to compete to attract ‘customers’. The best schools thrive, the worst close.
What did Gerwitz (Marxist) conclude about competition in the education system?
The competition only benefits the middle class as they can afford the best schools.
