Education- Perspectives

Question 1

who are the main Functionalist sociologists for education

Answer 1

Durkheim
Parsons
Davis/Moore

Question 2

what is functionalism

Answer 2

view society is a system of independent parts held together by a shared culture

Question 3

what did Durkheim (1903) identify were the two main functions of education

Answer 3

social solidarity
specialist skills

Question 4

how does education teach solidarity

Answer 4

by transmitting shared beliefs and values (e.g a country’s history)

Question 5

how does education teach specialist skills

Answer 5

by teaching them specialist skills they need to play their part in social division of labour

Question 6

what does Parsons (1961) argue about education

Answer 6

it acts as a bridge between family and wider society. in society everyone is judged by same standards, and people define themselves through rising up with hard work

Question 7

what do Davis and Moore (1945) argue about education

Answer 7

see it as a device for role allocation. argue inequality is necessary to fill positions with most talented

Question 8

what is the overall Functionalist argument on education

Answer 8

school perform function of selecting and allocating best to the roles they’d find in society

Question 9

who provides a challenge to Durkheim and what did they find (A03)

Answer 9

Wolf (2011) found 1/3 of a level courses dont lead to higher education or good jobs

Question 10

what is the overall Neoliberalist argument about education

Answer 10

value of education lies in how well it enables the country to compete in global marketplace

Question 11

who are the Neoliberalist sociologists for education

Answer 11

Chubb and Moe

Question 12

what are similarities between New Right belief and functionalist belief

Answer 12

-some are more naturally skilled than others
-education system runs on meritocratic principles
-believe education should socialise pupils into shared beliefs

Question 13

what is the key difference between NR and functionalist

Answer 13

NR believe these goals aren’t being achieved and reason is the state

Question 14

why do Chubb and Moe (1990) argue state-run education in the US has failed

Answer 14

-hasnt created equal opportunity
-fails to produce skills required by economy
-private school run better as they listen to paying parents

Question 15

what do the NR argue the state is needed for

Answer 15

-imposes frame which allows schools to compete
-ensures schools transmit culture

Question 16

who are the key Marxist sociologists for education

Answer 16

Althusser
Bowels and Gintis
Willis

Question 17

what does Althusser (1971) identify and what are they

Answer 17

two apparatuses which keep bourgeoise in power:
-Repressive state apparatus (power maintained by threats)
-Ideological state apparatus (controlling people’s ideas values and beliefs)

Question 18

what does Althusser argue the school’s functions are

Answer 18

-reproduce class inequality by transmitting it from generation to generation
-legitimate class inequality by producing ideologies that disguise true cause

Question 19

what do Bowels and Gintis (1976) argue

Answer 19

role of education is to reproduce obedient workforce by creating submissive environment

Question 20

who argues about myth of meritocracy

Answer 20

Bowels and Gintis argue this as studies show how school focuses on higher classes reinforcing this divide

Question 21

what does Willis (1977) show

Answer 21

WC pupils can resist attempts to force them to stay in WC