Functionalist perspective

Question 1

Outline Durkiem’s perspective on the role of education

1) specialist roles
2) social solidarity

Answer 1

• social solidarity:
Society needs individuals to work together to have working co-operations without the pursuit of selfish desires.
This is taught in schools from one generation to the next e.g through history = people have a sense of shared heritage

• specialist skills:
industries depend on many different jobs within, schools teach this

Question 2

Outline Parsons perspective on the role of education

1) meritocracy

~ talent + effort/motivation + equal opportunity = good job/high position in society ~

(-) Marxists believe this is a myth because it ignores racism etc

Answer 2

• meritocracy:
School is a bridge between family and adult roles in society - schools pass on a universal value

(families have particularistic standards but schools teach them universalistic standards to prepare them for adulthood and work, etc)

due to this, schools are considered an even playing field so the best students - who put in the effort - get the best jobs

Question 3

Outline Davis and Moore’s perspective on the role of education

1) role allocation

(-) New right - system doesn’t prepare people adequately for work

(-) Marxism - this just justifies inequality and legitimises capitalism

Answer 3

role allocation:
schools sift and sort pupils into the appropriate roles

Inequality is necessary so that the important roles are filled by the most talented people

Higher rewards are needed for more important jobs = more competition for individuals to work harder, be better etc

Question 4

How do feminists feel about the functionalist perspective?

Answer 4

• Liberal feminists agree to an extent because they want to celebrate the improving position of women in society + gender equality, which comes hand in hand with meritocracy
• Radical feminists disagree and say that school’s are still extremely patriarchal which means that there is no true meritocracy in regards to gender

Question 5

How can you use internal factors to oppose the functionalist perspective?

Answer 5

• meritocracy suggests an equal opportunity and yet streaming means that some students are disadvantaged and unable to get into top streams and achieve too grades
• not all students are on an even playing field, some teachers still negatively label pupils and the educational triage suggests they do not all receive the same attention