Functionalist Theories of the Education System Flashcards
Who mentions social solidarity?
Durkheim
Who mentions specialist skills?
Durkheim
Who mentions meritocracy?
Parsons
Who mentions role allocation?
David and Moore
According to Durkehim, how does school bring about social solidarity?
Brings people together with a sense of community. Education acts as a society in minature as it allows pupils to work collaboratively together, much as they would in the world of work. Transmits societies culture, by teaching a shared curriculum of British values e.t.c. English Lit and History
Explain Parsons meritocracy function…
The idea that the best will rise to the top through dedication and hard work. People have ascribed status’ which are given through birth. Meritocracy allows people to have achieved status’. Parsons believe schools bridges the gap between family life and the real world, where schools judges people with universalistic standards compared to the particularlistic standards of the family.
What are particularistic standards?
Standards of the family that judge their children, changes from family to family
What are universalistic standards?
Standards which judge a group of people, in this case students. Done through exam grades ect
Explain Davis and Moores role allocation function?
David and Moore see education as a device for selection. They believe inequality is necessary to ensure the best jobs are filled with the best people. Education “sifts and sorts” people according to ability and identifies human capital
Agrees with Parsons, best will rise to the top and therefore get the best jobs
Evaluation of Durkheim’s social solidarity…
Some people wish not to adhere to the norms and values set by school, breaking the social solidarity.
Explain Durkheim’s specialist skills function…
Education is an essential institution in maintaining the specialist division of labour. There are different roles to play within the economy each with a different level of skill.
School should teach young people with the skills needed to progress into wider society. Writing = English and Sociology e.c.t.
Evaluation of Durkheim’s specialised skills…
Education does not teach specialised skills adequately: 1/3 of 16 to 19 year olds go onto a courses that don’t lead to good jobs
Evaluation of Parsons meritocracy…
Educational achievement is vastly effected by class background, so is not the best rises to the top, rather the wealthiest
Evaluation of Davis and Moore’s role allocation…
Davis and Moore put forward a circular argument, they fail to acknowledge what an important job actually is!
