FUNCTIONALIST VIEW

Question 1

Durkheim; Social Solidarity and Specialist Skills

Answer 1

a. Durkheim argues that society needs a sense of solidarity, education does this in 3 ways:
1. Transmitting society’s culture
2. Schools acts as a ‘society in miniature’, thus helps us prepare for the wider society
3. Gives us specialist skills

Question 2

Parsons (1961)

Answer 2

a. Sees the schools as the ‘focal socialising agency’, acting as a bridge between the family and wider society
b. This is because within the family the child is judged by particularistic standards, by contrast, school and wider society judges us universalistically

Question 3

Davis and Moore; Role Allocation

Answer 3

a. Education is a proving ground for ability, it ‘sifts and sorts’ us according to ability
b. Most able are awarded with qualifications
c. Blau and Duncan (1978) agree:
- Human Capital; workers’ skills
- A meritocratic system does this best

Question 4

Evaluation;

Answer 4

a. Wolf Review of Vocational Education (2011); high-quality apprenticeships are rare and up to 1/3 of 16-19 year olds are on courses that don’t lead to higher education or good jobs
b. Equality in education doesn’t exist
c. Tumin (1953); criticises Davis and Moore for a circular argument
d. Marxists; aim of education in a capitalist society is to transmit the ideas of the Bourgeoisie
e. Wrong (1961); Functionalists assume pupils are passive
f. Neoliberals and New Right; state education system fails to prepare young people for work