Functionalist view of education sociologist

Question 1

Durkheim (1903)

Answer 1

Solidarity and skills :
- Education provides social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture - its shared beliefs and values from one generation to the next.
- Education teaches a set of skills that people need to play a part in the social division of labour

Question 2

Parsons (1961)

Answer 2

• Education acts as a bridge between the family and wider society
• In schools , a person’s status is largely achieved , not ascribed
• School preparing us to move from family to wider society

Question 3

Davis and Moore (1945)

Answer 3

• See education as a device for selection and role allocation .
  They focus on the relationship between education and social inequality.
• Inequality is necessary to ensure that the most important roles are filled by the most talented people