Functionalist perspective

Question 1

Social solidarity

Answer 1

Durkheim

Education creates social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture onto the next generation i.e. teaching of a countries history

School also acts as a mini society where we are prepared for life in wider society

Question 2

Specialist skills

Answer 2

Education teaches individuals specialist knowledge necessary to play their roles in the division of labour

Question 3

Meritocracy

Answer 3

Parsons

School and wider society have universalistic standards and achieved status rather than particularistic standards and ascribed status in families

School prepares us for shift between family and society as it is based on meritocratic principles

Question 4

Role allocation

Answer 4

Davis and Moore

Inequality in pay is necessary as incentive for talented people to work hard for important roles

School acts as a proving ground for ability, most talented gain highest qualifications and therefore higher positions

Question 5

Evaluation of role allocation

Answer 5

Tumin criticises them for circular argument

Question 6

Evaluation of meritocracy

Answer 6

There is ample evidence that equal opportunity in school is not real as class background can have a large influence

Question 7

Evaluation of social solidarity

Answer 7

Marxists say that only the ideology of the ruling class is transmitted rather than that of society

Question 8

Evaluation of specialist skills

Answer 8

Wolf review of vocational education claims that good apprenticeships are rare and 1/3 16-19 y/o are on courses that do not lead to higher education or good jobs