Functionalism and Education Flashcards
According to Durkheim, what function does education serve in terms of social solidarity?
Education transmits society’s culture to younger generations, prepares children for wider society by instilling interpersonal rules applicable beyond school, and teaches specialized skills to promote cooperation and social solidarity.
What does Durkheim mean by “education is like society in miniature”?
Durkheim suggests that education mirrors society by promoting a hidden curriculum that teaches values like structure, hierarchy, timekeeping, rules, and punishment, shaping pupils’ perspectives to align with societal norms.
How does Parsons view the role of education in relation to secondary socialisation?
Parsons considers education as an intermediary between family and wider society, instilling universalistic values (applicable to everyone) compared to particularistic values (varying between families).
According to Parsons, what fundamental shift occurs between family and school in terms of status?
In contrast to the ascribed status within the family, school and society offer achieved status, requiring effort and work to attain a particular standing.
In Parsons’ perspective, how does education function within a meritocratic system?
Parsons sees education as a meritocracy where equal opportunities allow individuals to achieve rewards based on their effort and abilities, contributing to role allocation in future work settings.
What do Davis and Moore propose regarding the role of education in society?
Davis and Moore suggest that education enables role allocation by fostering competition for the most talented jobs, emphasizing that some degree of inequality is necessary to ensure crucial societal roles are filled by the most capable individuals.
Describe Durkheim’s perspective on the hidden curriculum in education.
Durkheim believes education promotes a hidden curriculum that aligns students’ values with societal norms, teaching them things like structure, hierarchy, timekeeping, rules, and punishment.
What are the four positive functions performed by the education system according to the functionalist perspective?
The four positive functions highlighted by functionalists are: 1) Creating social solidarity, 2) Teaching skills necessary for work, 3) Instilling core values, and 4) Role Allocation and meritocracy.
How does education facilitate learning specialized skills necessary for work, according to Durkheim?
Durkheim noted that in an advanced industrial economy, schools teach a diverse set of skills essential for a complex Division of Labour, with vocational education offering specific training for various professions.
What does the concept of ‘meritocracy’ entail in the functionalist perspective?
Functionalists view education as a meritocracy, where equal opportunities allow individuals to succeed based on their effort and abilities, ensuring appropriate role allocation in society.
What criticisms do Marxists pose against the functionalist view of education?
Marxists argue against the meritocratic nature of education, highlighting persistent inequalities based on socio-economic backgrounds and suggesting that the functionalist perspective reflects the views of the powerful.
How does the functionalist perspective overlook the negative aspects of schooling?
Functionalists tend to focus on the positive functions of education, ignoring negative experiences such as bullying and the harm faced by a minority of students, according to critics.
