Functionalist

Question 1

Functionalists sociologist

Answer 1

Durkheim

Question 2

Durkheim belief

Answer 2

“Schools are socialisation agencies that teach children how to get along with others and prepare them for the adult economic roles”

Question 3

Functionalist belief

Answer 3

Education equips people to perform different functional roles

Question 4

Socialisation

Answer 4

learning the rules and norms of society

Question 5

How do schools teach socialisation?

Answer 5

Teach them the diverse skills needed. ie. dress code, punctuality, listening to superior

Question 6

Social placement

Answer 6

Methods for upward social mobility

Question 7

How do schools facilitate social placement?

Answer 7

Schools, especially universities help students progress the social ladder

Question 8

Social solidarity

Answer 8

Durkheim: the ties that bind people together in society.

Changed by the industrial revolution

Question 9

How does education achieve social solidarity?

Answer 9

Passes on shared heritage -> History, Literature, music -> Students understand aspects of culture
Communal gatherings -> Assemblies, prizes -> Promote community values
Social Cohesion -> Enrichment, sports activities, house systems -> Sense of unity

Question 10

Marxists Criticisms

Answer 10

Education only promotes the values of the powerful groups -> Ruling class
Education is divisive because of the hierarchy of schools and universities which separate social classes.

Question 11

Hargreaves criticism

Answer 11

Education promotes competition and individualisation and not shared values

Question 12

Feminist criticisms

Answer 12

Research suggests that factors such as class and gender and ethnicity also influence achievement

Question 13

Functions of education 
1. 
2.
3.
4.

Answer 13

1. Social solidarity
2. Teaching specialists skills (workforce) Schultz
3. selection of people for roles
4. Bridge between family and society

Question 14

Formal curriculum

Answer 14

Syllabus learning. Lessons

Question 15

Informal curriculum

Answer 15

Unspoken rules ie. dressing appropriately,

Question 16

Parsons

Answer 16

Argued that schools perform two major functions for society

1. Acts as a bridge between family and wider society
2. Help to socialise young people into the basic values of society

Question 17

Meritocracy

Answer 17

Rewarded based on skill and hard work

Question 18

Functional prerequisite

Answer 18

Basic needs for a society to survive. Hidden + Formal Curriculum form this. It passes on core values and culture

Question 19

New right are a … that reflect … views

Answer 19

New right area political standpoint that reflects functionalist views

Question 20

The new right believe

Answer 20

That educational policy should not be concerned with promoting equality, but training the future work force

Question 21

Marketisation of the education

Answer 21

Schools are now being run by private organisations rather than the government

Question 22

Marketisation promotes

Answer 22

League tables, parental choice, healthy competition

Question 23

AO3

Education passes on societies culture. ‘social glue’ which creates social cohesion

Answer 23

Marxists would argue that this is bad because it reproduces social class inequalities

Question 24

AO3
Education provides a bridge between the particularistic values/ ascribed status of the family to the universalistic vales achieved in wider society

Answer 24

The bridge is not equal because children in the upper class have an advantage with knowing the dominant culture being taught, than the lower class.

Question 25

AO3

Education provides a trained and qualified work force

Answer 25

The opportunity is not equal

Question 26

AO3
Effective role selection and allocation selects the most suitable and qualified people and matces them with a perfect fit job in a meritocratic society

Answer 26

Education isn’t meritocratic. Myth of meritocracy. Middle class kids have an unfair advantage

Question 27

3 factors which may affect social class differences in educational achievement

Answer 27

1. The behaviour (politeness, quiet, manners) of the middle class children cause them to achieve better than working class.
2. Middle class parents have more money to spend on their childs education
3. Middle class children will have parents with more cultural capital and provide more learning experiences

Question 28

Particularistic values

Answer 28

Values that only apply to certain people

Question 29

Human capital

Answer 29

The stock of habits, knowledge and attributes that are in the working labour force

Question 30

Division of labour

Answer 30

The separation of tasks in a system

Question 31

Parsons - Education … … … people

Answer 31

Sifts and sorts