functionalism

Question 1

what is meant by ‘human capital’?

Answer 1

the stock of knowledge, skills, values, habits and creativity that makes someone an economic asset to society

Question 2

what is meant by ‘hidden curriculum’?

Answer 2

the informal learning process in schools that is a side effect of education, which teaches students the norms and values of society
e.g. punctuality, respecting authority, uniforms etc

Question 3

what are particularistic values?

Answer 3

values and rules that apply only to a particular person in a given situation

Question 4

what are universalistic values?

Answer 4

values and rules that apply to all members of society equally

Question 5

what are the 4 functions of education?

Answer 5

-socialisation and social identity
-bridge between family and society
-developing human capital
-role allocation

Question 6

what is meant by ‘socialisation and social identity’?

Answer 6

-durkheim
-education passes on the culture and values of society as a form of secondary socialisation
-achieved through the hidden curriculum and PSHE
-helps build social solidarity by teaching core values

Question 7

what is meant by ‘bridge between family and society’?

Answer 7

-parsons
-school allows students to move from ascribed status and particularistic values to meritocratic and universalistic values of wider society

Question 8

what is meant by ‘developing human capital’?

Answer 8

-schultz
-investing in education benefits wider economy, as it provides a trained workforce
-education makes sure the best and most qualified people end up in the more skilled jobs

Question 9

what is meant by ‘role allocation’?

Answer 9

-davis and moore
-education selects and sifts people into a social hierarchy, where access to jobs, power and wealth are directly linked to educational success

Question 10

what are some arguments against the functionalist view of education?

Answer 10

-ignores dysfunctional aspects of education
-myth of meritocracy
-marxists say the hidden curriculum reinforces social inequality
-feminists say the hidden curriculum reinforces the patriarchy
-wong - functionalists see children as ‘passive puppets of socialisation’ when its much more complex

Question 11

what is the new right view on the role of education?

Answer 11

similar to functionalists, but believe the state takes too much of a role, and marketisation would raise standards, eg schools would compete with each other
chubb and moe - education vouchers and parentocracy

Question 12

what was Rutter et al’s research?

Answer 12

-attempted to show that schools can make a difference
-showed features in a schools organisation which make this difference
-eg, teachers are well prepared for lessons, teachers set examples for behaviour, teachers have high expectations

Question 13

what are ethos?

Answer 13

-the character, atmosphere or climate of a school
-eg emphasis on academic success, no racism/discrimination, parents encouraged to get involved etc

Question 14

what is labelling?

Answer 14

-the process of defining a person/group in a certain way

Question 15

what is a stereotype?

Answer 15

-a generalised oversimplified view of the features of a social group, not allowing many individual differences

Question 16

what is the halo effect?

Answer 16

-when pupils become stereotyped, either favourably or unfavourably, on the basis of earlier impressions

Question 17

what is the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 17

-where people act in response to predictions which have been made regarding their behaviour, thereby making the prediction true

Question 18

waterhouse 2004

Answer 18

-studied 4 primary and secondary schools
-suggested teacher labelling has implications for the way that teachers interact with pupils
-once labels are applied they become a ‘pivotal identity’ (a core identity providing a pivot which teachers use to interpret specific acts of classroom behaviour)
-eg if a ‘deviant’ child behaves in class, it is regarded as a temporary lapse