functionalist view on education

Question 1

functionlists main points on education

Answer 1

• social solidarity
• specialist skills
• meritocracy
• role allocation
• universalistic + particularistic standards
• ascribed + achieved status
• hidden curriculum

Question 2

what does parsons talk about

Answer 2

school acts as a bridge between the family and society
-prepares children for the transition from particularistic standards (e.g. laying on a chair) + ascribed status (get what you want) to universalistic standards (sitting straight up on a chair) + achieved status (have to work for what you want - everyone is judged by same standards) - and schools promote individualism not collectivism
* status is achieved on basis of merit

Question 3

Parsons contempory applications

Answer 3

• uniform in schools is different to home
• disciplinary sanctions for lateness different from home
• OFSTED wanting schools to teach cultural capital and teacher culture in curriculum
• exams promote achieved status as have to work for best grades

Question 4

role allocation meaning and who talks about this

Answer 4

Davis and Moore - most talented people gain higher qualifications which lead to more important jobs and higher rewards e.g. money
they see education as a means of role allocation - sorts people in according to their ability + better jobs getting best pay encourages everyone to compete for them - this leads to inequalities but it is only natural as there is only limited talent

Question 5

role allocation contempory applications

Answer 5

• setting and streaming - students sorted by ability into sets in subjects
• university applications - offers made by predictions in a certain subject area
• students who show little ability are shifted into vocational courses e.g. BTEC’s
• wage inequality between higher status and low status between skilled + unskilled labour

Question 6

role allocation criticisms

Answer 6

• feminists would say too much preference is placed upon traditional male professions - leads to gender pay inequality as female stereotyped jobs are given lower status
• depends on social network - many students who went to private schools continued in poltics as they know the ins and outs + more likely to be accepted into oxbridge

Question 7

meritocracy meaning and who talks about this

Answer 7

Davis and Moore - everyone has equal opportunities and achieve rewards through their efforts

Question 8

hidden curriculum meaning and who talks about this

Answer 8

Jackson - things within school that prepare us for work / later life e.g. time management, organisation skills etc - a way of learning norms and values society carries - socialisation process

Question 9

social solidarity meaning and how does education create this

Answer 9

individual members must feel themselves to be apart of the community - education system helps them to create this by transmitting societies cultures and shared beliefs

Question 10

specialist skills meaning

Answer 10

each person must have the skills to perform their role, eduaction teaches us this via maths science etc

Question 11

functionlism criticisms

Answer 11

• marxists would argue education is not meritocractic and that it doesnt pass on societies culutre/values but the ideology of the ruling class
• new right say state fails to prepare young children adequately for work
• feminists would say school passes on patriarchal values +disadvantages girls
• ignores class, gender + ethnicity