functionalism - education Flashcards
functionalist view on education
What is the general view of the role of education held by the functionalists?
The function of education is to create and maintain social solidarity and cohesion
functionalist view on education
What does Durkheim view as the main function of education?
Secondary agent of socialisation
Passes on cultural values of society
Achieved through hidden curriculum
Helps build social cohesion as it teaches students the core values of society
functionalist view on education
What does Durkheim view as the main function of education?
Secondary agent of socialisation
Passes on cultural values of society
Achieved through hidden curriculum
Helps build social cohesion as it teaches students the core values of society
functionalist view on education
What does Parson view as the main function of education?
Bridge between family and society
Allows students to move away from particularistic values (rules that only apply to a particular person in a given situation) in the home, to the meritocratic and universalistic values (values and rules that apply equally to all members of society) in the school
functionalist view on education
What does Schultz view as the main function of education?
The education system develops human capital (knowledge, skills, values, habits that make someone an economic asset to society)
Investment in education benefits economy - benefits society - creates cohesive nature
Society with stable economy has fewer social conflicts as less barriers between different groups within society
Education makes sure that the most skilled people end up in the most skilled careers & everyone is benefitting society
functionalist view on education
What does Davis and Moore view as the main function of education?
Role allocation
Sifting and sorting people into the social hierarchy
Meritocracy – people are able to access the best jobs/status because they have talent/worked hard
new right view on education
How does the New Right view if education differ to that of functionalists?
Agrees that education system is about socialisation
But they believe the education system has failed in their job to do this
Needs to be more competition in order to successfully fulfil its function
new right view of education
What did Chubb and Moe think was the best solution?
Parentocracy – parents should have choice in schools
Suggested education vouchers
Remove govt oversight for education – privatisation
Govt would provide vouchers to parents to spend on their child’s education
By providing these vouchers, parents could find best school for their child – not limited like now where w/c parents can’t afford private education
new right view of education
What do the New right mean when they talk about competition within school?
Limiting grading – e.g. “only top 5% can get an A”
Ranking students
Increase attainment and achievement
Ensures that the best students get the best jobs
Incentive to work hard – creates self sufficiency
Ensures people develop human capital and are sifted and sorted into the social hierarchy
new right view of education
What do the New Right mean when they talk about competition between schools?
Schools would have to compete for students in the same way that shops compete for customers
Schools should see parents and students as consumers
Provides incentive for schools to provide good quality education
evaluation of the functionalist and new right view on education
How does the interactionist Wong, criticise the functionalist view of education?
Specifically Durkheim and parsons
Assumes that children are passive puppets of socialisation, and they just soak up all the socialisation in schools and change their behaviour
Clearly not the case as we have: behavioural issues in school, formation of anti-school subcultures etc
Children will act up against norms and values they don’t agree with, don’t understand etc
Process is much more complex
Involves a teacher – pupil relationship
evaluation of the functionalist and new right view of education
How do functionalists ignore dysfunctional aspects of education?
Specifically Durkheim and parsons
Schools are not always positive places
Seen through bullying and school refusers
Ethnocentric curriculum and institutional racism within schools
May lead to students rejecting the universalistic values
evaluation of the functionalist and new right view of education
How are functionalists criticised due to a value consensus?
Specifically Durkheim and parsons
Assume there is a value consensus, i.e. we all have the same values/desires/goals in life
Not the case because we have diversity – e.g. different family types, career paths etc
evaluation of the functionalist and new right view of education
How do the conflict perspectives criticise the functionalist view of education?
Marxists – hidden curriculum reinforces social inequality and maintains ruling class ideology
Feminists – hidden curriculum maintains and reinforces patriarchy, not meritocracy
evaluation of the functionalist and new right view of education
What is the myth of meritocracy?
Marxists – meritocracy doesn’t exist because gender, ethnicity, social class etc all have an impact on educational achievement
Private schools mean m/c are advantaged – not what you know, but who you know - even if you don’t do well academically, the connections lead to success – e.g. Boris Johnson went to Eton, but didn’t do very well academically, ended up being PM
Education system was built by m/c for m/c
