FUNCTIONALISM Flashcards
1)Theoretical Perspectives Of Education 2)To understand the role and functions of the education system, including its relationship to the economy and to class structure
Which functionalist theorists put forward ideas on the topic of education?
1) Emile Durkheim
2) Talcott Parsons
3) Davis and Moore
What is the name of the process whereby complex tasks are broken down into simpler task and assigned to the members if the society?
Social Division of Labour
What is the name of the word which provides social solidarity and give a definition?
It integrates individuals into society giving them a sense of social solidarity, enabling them to agree on goals.
What are the 2 main functions of school, which Durkheim talks about?
1) Creating Social Solidarity
2) Teaching specialist skills
Explain in depth the 2 main function of schools which Durkheim talks about?
1) Creating social solidarity: It is a powerful sense of belonging to the group or community. As schools transmit a shared set of values and beliefs through the curriculum. Also schools acts a s a ‘society in miniature’. Teaching children social skills they will need in the adults world.
2) Specialist skills: The Social division of labour means society heads people with a range of different specific skills.
What 2 functions do schools have according to Talcott Parsons? And explain them both.
1) Secondary Socialisation: The Process of learning expected norms and values
2) Role allocation: Schools help students work out what jobs they would be good at
According to Parsons, in the family, children are judged by what? And give the definition.
Particularistic Standards: What is unique about about the child
According to Parsons what does school act as and what does the family determine about status?
- School is a bridge between the family and wider society
- In a wider society people are judged by universalistic standards whereby status is achieved.
- Their status is ascribed
What are meritocratic principles?
All children have an equal opportunity to excel and achieve rewards through their own efforts and ability.
What function did Davis and Moore identify?
Education allocates children to their future work roles by making people compete for the best jobs to ensure they are filled by the most talented people. Inequality is therefore important.
What evaluative points can be made about functionalism?
1) Schools are not meritocracies which provide equal opportunities, some groups are clearly advantaged in the education system.
2) Marxist argue that schools do not transmit shared values. They only transmit the values of the ruling class.
3) Interactionists, Dennis Wrong argues that functionalism portrays students as passive recipients of school values. In Fact students frequently reject school values.
4) The New Right argues that schools fail to prepare young people for work.
