functionalist Flashcards
1
Q
what do functionalists argue about education?
A
it is positive for society and individuals
2
Q
2 key functions
A
socialisation & economy
3
Q
what do functionalists argue are the functions of education? 5
A
- role allocation
- developing human capital - economic
- passing on society’s culture and building social solidarity
- providing a bridge between family and work
4
Q
providing a bridge between family and work - explanation
A
- Durkheim argues school is ‘society in miniature’
- Parsons says it’s an important agent of secondary socialisation - bridges gap between particularistes and universalistic values
- Children’s status is ascribed but wider contemporary society is meritocratic - people earn their status according to their individual achievements e.g. talent + skill
- In situation of achieved status the same universalistic values or apply to everyone regardless of who they are e.g. marking essays fairly (universalistic) not on how much you like them
5
Q
passing on society’s culture and building social solidarity - explanation
A
- Passes on core cultural values to new generation - through hidden curriculum and national curriculum e.g. in PSHE
- Unites or glues people together and social solidarity by giving shared values - Durkheim
6
Q
role allocation - explanation
A
- Davis and Moore (1967 (1945) ) - the education system is a means of selecting and sifting people for different level of the job market and ensuring the most talented and qualified individuals are allocated to the most important jobs
- By grading people through streaming and test/exam results the education system is a major method of role allocation - fitting the most suitable people in the hierarchy of unequal positions in society
- Davis & Moore - in the educational race for success there is equality of educational opportunity so inequalities are legitimised
7
Q
developing human capital - economic explanation
A
- Theory developed by Schultz (1971) - high levels of spending on education + training are justified as these develop peoples knowledge and skills + this investment is an important factor in a successful economy
- Functionalists see development of human capital through the expansion of schooling and higher education - necessary to provide trained qualified flexible labour force to undertake a wide range of jobs
8
Q
socialisation - explanation
A
- School socialises individuals into shared values of a meritocratic society - children are prepared as members of society
- Education transmits culture - may be deliberate and formal includes consensual norms and values, shared beliefs and often a national or other cultural identity
- Pupils learn appropriate roles associated with age gender and class
9
Q
strengths of functionalist
A
- role allocation is evident - through setting and tiering of papers
- national curriculum -> social solidarity
- sets a strand arc that schools have to meet
10
Q
weaknesses of functionalist
A
- Functionalist view is too deterministic - not all pupils passively accept school values - anti school subculture
- Marxists argue values transmitted by education are not society’s shared values but rather those of the ruling class
- Education is not meritocratic as schools discriminate against some groups (e.g. wc + black pupils) and don’t give them an equal opportunity to achieve
- It is sometimes difficult to see a direct link between subjects studied at school and what is required of workers
- A persons ascribed characteristics are more important in determining their income later in life than is their achievement in school
- Feminists argue they ignore the importance of gender
11
Q
what does education provide?
A
the means for upward social mobility for those who have the ability
12
Q
what does the hidden curriculum do?
A
helps to prepare society’s future citizens for participation in a society based on value consensus
