Education Topic 6 - Role of Education (Theories) Flashcards
What is functionalism based on?
The idea that society is made up of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture or value consensus.
What analogy do functionalists use to explain the relationship between society and its institutions?
The organic analogy.
Who is considered the founding father of functionalism?
Durkheim.
What are the two main functions of the education system identified by Durkheim?
- Creating social solidarity
- Teaching specialist skills
What does Durkheim argue is necessary for society to function?
A sense of solidarity among its members.
How does the education system create social solidarity according to Durkheim?
By transmitting society’s culture from one generation to the next.
What is the role of education in teaching specialist skills?
To equip individuals with the knowledge needed for the social division of labour.
What concept does Parsons introduce regarding education?
School as a ‘focal socialising agency’ that bridges the gap between home and wider society.
What is the difference between particularistic and universalistic standards in education?
Particularistic standards apply to individual children, while universalistic standards apply to all children equally.
What does Parsons mean by meritocracy in education?
A system where individuals have equal access to opportunities and are rewarded based on their efforts and abilities.
What is the role allocation function of education according to Davis and Moore?
To sift and sort pupils into roles suited to their aptitude and ability.
According to Davis and Moore, why is inequality in education considered inevitable?
Not everyone is equally talented and should not be rewarded equally.
What did the Wolf Report (2011) find regarding the education system?
High quality apprenticeships are rare and many courses do not lead to higher education or good jobs.
What do critics argue about the concept of meritocracy?
That it may be a myth and achievement is influenced by class rather than ability.
What is a key criticism made by Tumin regarding Davis and Moore’s argument?
It is circular; jobs are deemed important because they are well-paid, and they are well-paid because they are important.
How do Marxists view the values taught in education?
As ideology imposed by the dominant class, not as shared values.
What do interactionists argue about functionalists’ view of education?
They assume students are passive and do not acknowledge that pupils can reject school values.
What is neoliberalism in the context of education?
An economic doctrine advocating for free-market competition in education to improve standards.
What do the New Right believe about the state’s role in education?
That it fails to meet the needs of the people and should allow market forces to operate.
What is the proposed solution by the New Right for improving education?
Marketisation of education to create competition among schools.
What did Chubb and Moe find in their research on education?
Pupils from low-income families perform better in private schools than in state schools.
What is the voucher system proposed by Chubb and Moe?
A system where families receive vouchers to spend on their child’s education, forcing schools to compete.
What are the key roles the state should have according to the New Right?
- Impose a framework for competition
- Ensure transmission of a shared culture
What do Gerwitz and Ball argue about competition between schools?
It benefits the middle classes who have the capital to access the best schools.
What contradiction exists in the New Right’s approach to education?
Supporting parental choice while imposing a National Curriculum.
What is the Marxist view of the education system?
It reproduces class division and capitalist exploitation.
What are Althusser’s two apparatuses that maintain bourgeoisie power?
- Repressive State Apparatuses (RSAs)
- Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs)
What are the two functions of education according to Marxists?
- Reproducing class inequality
- Legitimising class inequalities
What is the correspondence principle as described by Bowles and Gintis?
The parallels between school and workplace hierarchies.
What is the hidden curriculum?
Lessons learned outside of formal education that teach compliance and hierarchy.
What do Bowles and Gintis argue about the myth of meritocracy?
It disguises the reality that social class, not ability, determines success.
What does Willis argue about pupils and indoctrination?
Pupils can resist indoctrination and form countercultures.
What is the ‘lads’ counter culture described by Willis?
A group of working-class boys who reject school values and mock conformist peers.
What do critics argue about Willis’ study of the boys?
It is not representative and romanticizes their anti-school attitudes.
How do postmodernists critique the Marxist view of education?
They argue that education now reproduces diversity rather than inequality.
What do Marxists generally ignore according to critics?
Other inequalities such as gender, ethnicity, and sexuality.
What do feminists criticize about the ‘class first’ approach?
They argue it ignores other inequalities such as gender, ethnicity, and sexuality
Feminists believe these factors can interlink and influence educational outcomes.
Whose work has stimulated research into inequality in education?
Willis’ work
This includes contributions from Sewell, Connolly, Mac an Ghail, and others.
What do Marxists argue about the influence on education?
Education is shaped by big businesses (capitalism) rather than individual choice
They emphasize the role of economic structures in shaping educational opportunities.
What has happened to adult education funding?
It has been cut, leading to a decline in available classes for adults
This suggests a reduction in opportunities for lifelong learning.
What is a significant feature of a postmodern world mentioned in the text?
Globalisation
It involves the spreading of ideas and influences across the world.
How has globalisation influenced educational policy in the UK?
It has led to a trend towards marketisation and influenced policies like the Free School idea from Sweden
The UK both influences and is influenced by global educational trends.
What impact does globalisation have on subjects taught in schools?
It necessitates a trained workforce to compete globally, leading to the introduction of T Levels
T Levels are qualifications designed to provide technical education.
What are some features of the current educational system influenced by postmodern views?
- Individual learning programmes (post 16)
- Multitude of different qualifications (apprenticeships, GCSEs, A Levels, T Levels, BTECs)
- Customized schools (faith schools, public schools, academies, free schools, specialist schools, grammar schools, comprehensive schools)
- Increase in adult education from various providers
These features reflect the diversity and customization in education today.
What do critics argue about the changes in education according to postmodern theorists?
They exaggerate the changes, noting greater centralisation in areas like the national curriculum
Critics suggest that the reality is more complex than postmodern theorists portray.
What do all the modern approaches to education agree on?
There is a single best way to approach education
They believe society is clear cut and predictable, allowing for rational solutions to human problems.
What is the postmodern view of society compared to modern approaches?
Postmodernists believe society is chaotic, fragmented, and diverse
This contrasts with the modern view that sees society as predictable.
What do postmodernists argue about a single approach to education?
It is inadequate for addressing the complexities of society
They advocate for multiple approaches to reflect societal diversity.
