Functionalism and Education Flashcards
What did Emile Durkheim (functionalism) believe was the purpose of education? [2]
- the transmission of society’s norms and values (creates value consensus) which without, social life would be impossible
- to unite the individuals in society that exist within it and establish social solidarity (a sense of belonging in society)
How do assemblies lessons promote social solidarity in schools?
- everyone receives the same information at the same time and learns it at the same pace
How do houses/forms lessons promote social solidarity in schools?
- brings opportunity to meet people from a wider group, seek advice from form tutors
How do school clubs, teams and societies lessons promote social solidarity in schools?
- brings people together who uphold similar interests and abilities
What does Durkheim believe about school rules and the effects of them on pupils?
- that they should be strictly enforced with punishment reflecting the nature of the damage done to the social group
- this should lead to self discipline as the individual should want to avoid punishment
How does bullying in schools criticise Durkheim’s views?
- bullying makes people socially isolated and outcasted which goes against social solidarity
What did Talcott Parsons say happens after primary socialisation?
- school acts as a bridge between the family and society which prepares children for their adult role
- children are judged and treated based on particularistic standard at home but then judged by universalistic standards when they start education (eg rules and expected behaviours)
What is meritocracy?
- everyone is given the same opportunities and achievement is based on individuals own merit - the harder you work the more you achieve
How is the education system meritocratic? [4]
- national curriculum, free education for all, timetables, exams, everyone given the same opportunities
How did Parsons say a persons status determined in schools and wider society?
- achieved and not ascribed
- both operate in meritocratic principles (eg the harder you work the more you achieve)
What did Parsons describe school as?
- a society in miniature that prepares us to move from the family into wider society
How can schools be seen as a society in miniature? [3]
- designated times for break and lunch
- punctuality
- pressure / stress and how to deal with it
What are 2 strengths of Parsons ideas on meritocracy?
- his ideas offer a clear link between education and other institutions within society
- schools ‘sift and sort’ pupils into academic subjects they are good at to help select future roles
What are 2 limitations of Parsons ideas on meritocracy?
- fails to consider the diversity of values in modern society
- conflict theories such as Marxists criticise the idea of meritocracy and claim it is an ‘illusions’ as the MC have more opportunities and resources necessary to succeed
What did Davis and Moore say about role allocation?
- that education plays a key role in ensuring that young people go into roles necessary for society
- this is done through testing and evaluating students, matching their talents, skills and capacities to the jobs for which individuals are best suited
Why do Davis and Moore (and all functionalists) argue that inequality is necessary in education?
- to ensure that the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people
- this leads to the most talented people to compete for their position in society and society can select the most talented individuals to fit these positions
What are 4 factors in schools put in place that support Davis and Moore’s ideas on role allocation?
- school career advisors
- sets
- subject choices / options
- enrichments
What is 1 limitation of Davis and Moore’s ideas on role allocation?
- critics have argued that intelligence and ability have only a limited influence on educational achievement
- marxists would challenge the idea that the education system grades individuals according to their ability, and instead argue that it favours the MC
criticisms of functionalist perspective on education
- ignores the inequalities that can happen in education that can be negative for some groups (eg sexism, racism, homophobia)
- we don’t all have shared norms and values as we are a multicultural society: some cultures do not have the same views as others)
- education doesn’t always teach us the specialised skills needed for work, some roles require further education which mainly only MC can afford
strengths of functionalist perspective of education
- NR support - meritocracy makes people responsible for their own achievement
