Education (Parsons)

Question 1

What does parsons see education as?

Answer 1

-Parsons views education as a bridge, as it helps to connect your particularistic values and norms that you are taught at home through primary socialisation, into a formal secondary socialisation which mirrors the workplace.
(also teaches universalistic standards)
-also transforms your ascribed status at home to your achieved status, where you build on your skills and work you way to the top

Question 2

How does education achieve this?

Answer 2

1. through hidden curriculum and formal curriculum (norms values, dress code, specialist skills)
   2.norms and values of schools reflecting wider society
2. competition between students (healthy, makes students ambitious)

Question 3

How is this seen through modern day (contemporary) school?

Answer 3

-school uniform and dress code
-sanctions

Question 4

What are the criticisms of parsons?

Answer 4

-while parsons see the hidden curriculum as beneficial, Marxists argue that the hidden curriculum prepares students for exploitation, and preparing to work under a capitalist workforce
-post modernists argue that society do not share the same values, and that society is so fragmented they have their own individual norms and values
-clash and middle class and working class values may lead to underachievement