Functionalism Flashcards
what functions of the education system are functionalists interested in
Functionalists are interested in the functions education performs to help maintain and reproduce society over time
functions of the education system with their sociologists
Social Solidarity - Durkheim
Specialist Skills - Durkheim
Meritocracy - Parsons
Role Allocation - Davis and Moore
specialist skills
Durkheim argues that education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills that they need to play their part in the social division of labour. For example, with the introduction of T levels, students can take courses that prepare them for skilled employment.
why are specialist skills needed in Modern and Industrial society
Modern industrial economies have a complex division of labour where the production of even a single item usually involves the cooperation of many different specialists and for it to be successful, each person must have the necessary specialist knowledge and skills to perform their role.
what is meritocracy
Meritocracy is the idea that everyone is given an equal opportunity and individuals achieve rewards through their effort and ability
how does the education system perform the function of meritocracy and according to who
Parsons argues that the education system is meritocratic as the school judges us on the same universalistic and impersonal standards. For example, all students sit the same exam and the pass mark is the same for everyone. Instead of people holding top positions in the education system based on their ascribed status, students gain status through their efforts and ability - achieved status
how does the education system perform role allocation and according to who
Functionalists argue that schools also perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles, by assessing individual aptitudes and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to. Davis and Moore argue that schools act as a device for selection and role allocation since it acts as a proving ground for ability, the education system is where individuals show what they can do, and it then sifts and sorts them according to that, the ablest gain the highest qualifications which gives them entry to higher paying jobs
social solidarity
Durkheim argues that society needs a sense of solidarity that is, its members must feel themselves to be part of a single body or community and without social solidarity, social life and cooperation would be impossible as everyone would pursue their selfish desires. The education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture, shared beliefs and values from one generation to the next. For example, the teaching of a country’s history instils in children a sense of shared heritage and a commitment to the wider social group. Schools act as a society in miniature, preparing us for life in wider society, it teaches us the value consensus which ensures social solidarity
evaluation of functionalism - Marxists
Marxists argue that the shared values of the society that functionalists argue the education system transmits is the ideology of the ruling class since we live in a capitalist society
Meritocracy is a myth
evaluation of functionalism - interactionists
Interactionist Dennis Wrong argues that functionalists are too deterministic. They assume that pupils are mere puppets in society who would passively accept all they are taught and never reject the schools values
evaluation of functionalism - new right
The new right argue that the state education system fails to perform its function due to lack of marketisation
