functionalism Flashcards
how do functionalists see education
- As a part of wider social system
socialistion + Parsons
- schools = secondary agents of socialisation
- generation by generation transmit + reproduce shared cultural values
what shared values does the education system reproduce?
achievemet, competition + individualism
how are these shared cultural values transmitted?
- Hidden + academic curricula (social reprdocution)
what does the hidden + academic curricula ensure?
- to ensure value consensus + social order
define value consensus?
- ppl agreee around a set of shared norms + values + are expected to commit to + enforce
social solidarity + Durkheim
- he sated education functions to bring about social intergration + solidaroty + specialist skills
Examples of this in education
- History + lanaguage links children to society + affirm to them a sense of belonging
- e.g. Wales, teaches welsh language as compulsory in schools –> reminds children of Welsh heritage
what is social solidarity?
- the cohesion between individuals in a society that ensure social order + stability
define academic/formal curriculm?
- knowledge taught in schools for purpose of exams + qualifications
define hidden curriculm?
- informal learning processes that occur in schools which transmits values, attitudes + principles
- Jackson - ‘unpublished features of school life’
criticism of Durkheim
feminists
- Argue there is no value consensus. schools today still teach pupils patriarchal values; which disadvantages women + girls in society
Talcott parsons function of education?
- school/education acts a social bridge between the family + wider society
how does the education system act as a social bridge?
- children judged on subject factors in family + status is ascribed –> has particualistic standards
- status in society is achieved + schools have universalistic standards –> judge pupils on merit
How did Parsons see the classroom as?
- saw the classroom as a microcosm of society (miniature society)
how does the education system help adjust children
- detaches children from primary caregivers + family
- teaches them the essential norms + values
meritocracy?
- a system expresses the idea that ppl should be rewarded based on their efforts + abilities
Education system mertocratic?
- functionalsst argues the eduaction systme is meritocratic
- bc children are objectively evaluated through examinations + the awarding of qualifications
criticism of Parsons
Bowles + Ginitis
- myth of meritocracy –> society is not really meriticratic. it is a myth designed designed to make working-class pupils blame themselves for systamtic failures + discrimination. pupils are judged on class not abilities
who argues role allocation?
Davis + Moore
eduaction + role allocation
- education allocates + selects ppl to the most appropriate job for their future roles
how does the education system do this?
- by carrying out filtering process of ‘sifting + sorting out’ indidviduals so the most talented succeed + get bets qualfications + hav ethe most important jobs
what do Davis + Moore say about work roles?
- some work roles are more complex than others + require greater skill
according to Davis + Moore how does society function efficiently
- with most talented indiv allocated to most important jobs
