Functionalist theories of the role of education

Question 1

Durkheim (1903)
- how it helps society function effectively

Answer 1

• education system creates social solidarity
  social solidarity - feeling part of a community/ sense of belonging
  -helps transmit societys culture from one generation to the next
  e.g uniform, rules, ethos, sports day

Question 2

Durkheim (1903)
- how it helps to strengthen the economy

Answer 2

• schools teach specialist skills and knowledge to perform their role
• industrial economies require speciailist skills and it promotes social solidarity

Question 3

Parsons
- help society function effectively

Answer 3

• secondary socialisation
  
  • learn interpersonal skills so we are able to get on with each other e.g teamwork
  • school is a focal socialising agency

Question 4

Davis and moore
- help strengthen the economy

Answer 4

• role allocation
  
  • schools helps you try out different things in schools so you know where your talents lie - specialise in what your good at
• the family unit doesn’t help with this so it means the most talented people get the jobs
• education plays a key part in providing a ground for ability as it is where individuals show what they can do
• ensures that the most talented people get the most important roles
  HOWEVER - equal opportunity in education doesnt exist

Question 5

evaluations of the functionalists perspective

Answer 5

• education system doesn’t teach specialist skills as adequately as he durkheim claims
  -equal opportunity affects the quaility of education received e.g class background can affect achievement rather than ability
  -