Functionalism-education Flashcards
how do functionalists view society?
a system of integrated parts-each part has a role to play in maintaining society
it is held together by a shared culture or value consensus
what was Emile Durkheim’s (1903) 2 main functions of education?
- creating social solidarity
- teaching specialist skills
what would happen without organisation in society?
chaos. we need social unity
what is social solidarity?
individuals must feel a part of a single community
what would happen without social solidarity?
cooperation would be replaced by pursuing self interest
what does education contribute to social solidarity?
beliefs
values
what is specialist skills?
success depends on each individual having the knowledge and skills to perform their role
evaluate social solidarity
- functionalists see education as a vehicle for installing shared social values
- marxists argue that education in the capitalist society only transmits the ideology of a minority
evaluate specialist skills
-the education does not teach specialist skills adequately, as durkheim claims
what is collective consciousness?
set of shared beliefs,ideas and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society
what is instrumental relationships?
they involve cooperation merely in order to achieve some limited and immediate goal
what is particularistic standards
an exclusive adherence and dedication to ones group,party,sector or nation
what is ascribed status
the social status a person is assigned at birth involuntarily later in life
what is universalistic standards
a person is judged by a clear measure of achievement that is also applied to every other child
what is achieved status
who you are is gained by your own efforts e.g. school
what is meritocracy
ruling or influential class of educated or able people, prepares young people for work
what did Talcott Parsons believe?
the educational system is the main agency for secondary socialisation and that it prepares children for adult roles
what did Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore (1945) believe?
they see education as a device for selection and role allocation, but they focus on the relationship between education and social inequality
give 3 functions of education
social solidarity
role allocation
social skills
give 3 criticisms of the functionalist approach
- there is doubt about how far contemporary society is really based on universalistic values and achieved status
- the link between educational qualifications and job status is weak
- there is no equality of opportunity in education
