Functionalism Flashcards
Define Human Capital
The stock of knowledge, skills, values, habits and creativity that makes someone an economics asset to society.
(Teaching specilied skills- Durkheim)
Define Hidden Curriculum
The informal leaning processes that happen in school as a side effect of eduction that teaches students the norms and values of society
Define Particularistic values
Values and rules which only apply to that particular person with a given situation
Define Universalistic values
Values and rules which apply to all member of society equally
Define Role Allocation
The process of sifting and sorting people into the social hierarchy through the education system
(Davis and Moore)
Define Meritocracy
The idea that everyone gets equal opportunity to succeed
What are the 4 functions of education?
-Socialisation and Social solidarity
-Bridge between family and society
-Develop the Human Capital
-Role Allocation
What is the theory of bridging the gap between family and Society?
Schools allow students to move from the ascribed status and particularistic values of the home to the meritocratic and universalistic value of wider society
(Parsons)
What is the theory of social solidarity?
Passes o the culture and values of society onto pupils i.e value consensus
Achieved through hidden curriculum and teaching “British values”
(Durkheim)
What is the myth of meritocracy?
(Evaluation of Functionalist views)
Schools generate complacency with the promise of greater rewards BUT working class pupils are unlikely to be rewarded due to the unequal structure of eductions to preserve the interest of the ruling class
There is a weak link between educational achievement and economic success
(Bowles and Gintis)
Evaluation of Social solidarity
It’s the values of the ruling class that are being passed on to keep the status quo of the the ruling class’ dominance
(Marxist)
Evaluation of Teaching Specialised Skills
By teaching everyone special skills, it results in a reserve of an overqualified workforce which as a result, creates lower wages
(Marxist)
Evaluation of the deterministic view
It ignores the fact that not all students are ‘passive puppets’ and some willingly rebel against the system
(Willi’s Learning to Labour)
