Education- Topic 5(The role of education)

Question 1

Functionalism- Durkheim

Answer 1

Durkheim identifies two main functions of education: social solidarity and specialist skills. The education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture from one generation to the next. Schools also act as a ‘society in miniature’ preparing us for life in wider society.

Question 2

Functionalism- Parsons

Answer 2

Parsons argues that schools are meritocratic. This is the belief that all pupils have an equal chance to succeed through talent and abilities, irrespective of class, gender, ethnicity etc.
Parsons also sees the school as an agent of socialisation, acting as a bridge between the family and wider society.

Question 3

Functionalism- Davis and Moore

Answer 3

Davis and Moore believe schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles by assessing individuals aptitudes and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to.

Question 4

Marxism- Althusser

Answer 4

The education system performs two functions for the ideological state apparatus:
**Reproduction **- the education system reproduces class inequality by failing each generation of working-class pupils
Legitimation - the education system tries to convince people that inequality is inevitable and failure is the fault of the individual, not the capitalist system

Question 5

Marxism- Bowles and Gintis

Answer 5

Schools create the new generations of workers to serve the capitalist system.

There is a **hidden curriculum **in schools (lessons that are ‘learned’ but not taught), which is used to serve the capitalist system (Eg. pupils accept hierarchy, competition, alienation)

The functionalist idea of meritocracy is a myth; success is based on class background, not ability or educational achievement.