functionalist view on the education system

Question 1

what is meant by values and norms

Answer 1

society’s shared consensus, ‘normal’ ways of acting and the things that society deems to be important.

Question 2

what is the hidden curriculum ?

Answer 2

that which is not explicitly taught in school but which shapes attitudes and behaviors of students

Question 3

what is social solidarity

devised by durkheim

Answer 3

the integration of people into society through shared values, a common culture and shared understandings which brings them today.

Question 4

what are particularistic values

devised by parsons

Answer 4

rules and values that give priority to personal relationships.

Question 5

what are universalistic values

Answer 5

rules and relationships that apply equally to all members of society.

Question 6

what is primary socilisation

Answer 6

how family brings you up and teaches the norms of society.

Question 7

what is the division of labour

Answer 7

the division of work into a large number of specialised tasks, each carried out by one worker or a group of workers.

Question 8

what is meritocracy

Answer 8

giving power or opportunities to people based on their ability and effort.

Question 9

what are the two main headings of the functionaist viewpoint of education.

Answer 9

1. creating social cohesion
2. preparing students for work.

Question 10

what is meant by ‘creating social cohesion’

Answer 10

1. passing on societys culture & building social solidarity - integrating people into society through shared values.
2. proving a bridge btwn particularistic values of the family, universalistic, consensus in soc - teaching children whats socially acceptable.

Question 11

whats meant by perparing students for work.

Answer 11

1. providing a trained and qualified labour force - children picking their GCSE options depending on what they want to do for their future.
2. selecting and allocating people in a meritocratic society and legitimising social inequality - this means school shapes you into your deserved career.

Question 12

criticism of functionist view on education.

how does school not create social cohesion.

Answer 12

1. feminists would say that the ‘male stream’ school system doesnt provide many opportunities for women.
2. marxism- divide in classes, school doesnt create a consensus values. E.g the w/c are repressed.

Question 13

criticism of functionalist views on education

how does school not prepare students for work

Answer 13

anti structuralist theories- post modernism & interactionalism.
limited subject choices
less opportunities for people with lower grades- w/c people underachieving.

Question 14

what are some of the left wing ideology

Answer 14

liberal progressive
equality,
society is unfair to minority groups
utopianism- inclusive, multi-culteral, evolving.

Question 15

what are some right wing ideology

Answer 15

conservative traditional, equity, community based on morals, suceed/ fail on their own merit. minority groups dont necessarily deserve extra.

Question 16

Explain how functionalists fit on the right winf, refer to merit and legitimate inequality in your answer.

Answer 16

functionalists fir on the right wing as they believe that community is based on morals, people have freedom to suceed and fail meaning that everyone has their place in society as society needs cleaners as well as accountants.

Question 17

whats meany by human capital

devised by schultz

Answer 17

the economic value of a worker’s experience and skills.

Question 18

whats meant by marketisation

what political group and what policy ?

Answer 18

trend in education policy from the 1980s where schools were encouraged to compete against each other and act more like private businesses rather than institutions under the control of local government.

New Right and with the Education Reform Act of 1988

Question 19

what are the benefits of schools competing ?

Answer 19

• usp- for schools- specalised subjects
• more money