Education - Theories of Education

Question 1

What is ‘Value Consensus’ in the context of the Functionalist perspective on education?

Answer 1

An agreement among society’s members about what values are important.

Question 2

According to Functionalists, what role does education play in society?

Answer 2

Education performs functions that help to maintain society as a whole.

Question 3

What does Durkheim argue about the role of education in society?

Answer 3

Education helps create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture from one generation to the next.

Question 4

How does Durkheim describe schools in relation to society?

Answer 4

Schools resemble ‘society in miniature’.

Question 5

What is the main idea of Parsons’ concept of meritocracy?

Answer 5

Everyone is given equal opportunity, and individuals achieve rewards through their own effort and ability.

Question 6

What is the function of education according to David and Moore?

Answer 6

Education acts as a proving ground for ability, ‘sifting and sorting’ individuals according to their ability.

Question 7

What do Blau and Duncan (1978) assert about modern economies?

Answer 7

Modern economies depend on using their ‘human capital’ (workers’ skills).

Question 8

What criticism does Tumin (1953) make against Davis and Moore’s argument?

Answer 8

He criticizes them for a circular argument regarding job importance.

Question 9

According to Marxists, what does education transmit in capitalist societies?

Answer 9

The ideology of the ruling class.

Question 10

What does Wrong (1961) argue about the Functionalist view of education?

Answer 10

Functionalists have an ‘over-socialised view’ of people as mere puppets of society.

Question 11

What do Neoliberals and the New Right argue about state education?

Answer 11

The state education system fails to prepare young people adequately for work.

Question 12

What similarities exist between the New Right and Functionalist views?

Answer 12

Both believe some people are naturally more talented, favor meritocratic principles, and support socializing pupils into shared values.

Question 13

What is a key difference between New Right and Functionalist views on education?

Answer 13

New Right believes the current education system fails because it is state-run and has a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Question 14

What do Chubb and Moe (1990) propose regarding state-run education?

Answer 14

Control should be placed in the hands of consumers (parents and local communities).

Question 15

According to the New Right, what are the two roles of the state in education?

Answer 15

• Imposes a framework on schools to allow competition
• Ensures schools transmit a shared culture through a single National Curriculum.

Question 16

What criticism do Gewirtz (1995) and Ball (1994) make regarding school competition?

Answer 16

Competition benefits the middle class who can use cultural/economic capital to access desirable schools.

Question 17

What do Marxists argue about the cultural transmission in education?

Answer 17

Education imposes the dominant minority ruling class culture, devaluing working class and ethnic minority cultures.

Question 18

What is the Marxist view of the capitalist class?

Answer 18

A minority class of employers who own the means of production and profit by exploiting the majority.

Question 19

What are Althusser’s two ‘apparatuses’ in the state?

Answer 19

• Ideological state apparatus
• Repressive state apparatus.

Question 20

What is the correspondence principle as described by Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 20

The parallels between school and workplace that prepare working class pupils for their future roles.

Question 21

What is the ‘myth of meritocracy’ according to Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 21

The main factor determining someone’s income is family and class background, not ability or educational achievement.

Question 22

What did Willis’ study of ‘the lads’ reveal about working class boys’ attitudes towards school?

Answer 22

They formed a counter-culture, flouting school rules and viewing intellectual work as inferior.

Question 23

What criticism do postmodernists have of the correspondence principle?

Answer 23

They argue education now reproduces diversity, not inequality.

Question 24

What do Morrow and Torres (1998) criticize about traditional class-based approaches?

Answer 24

They argue that society is now more diverse and cannot be understood through a ‘class first’ lens.

Question 25

What does MacDonald (1980) argue about the role of education in reproducing patriarchy?

Answer 25

Bowles and Gintis ignore the fact that schools also reproduce patriarchy.

Question 26

What is the main focus of Connolly’s (1998) research?

Answer 26

Explores ethnic and gender inequalities in education.