Functionalist views of Education Flashcards
Do Functionalists take a positive or negative pov of education?
They take a positive view. They think that education BENEFITS THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY.
What does education help to maintain?
Value consensus by teaching children norms and values of society.
What do is meritocracy?
A fair system that gives everyone an equal chance of success
Do Functionalists believe that education is meritocratic?
Yes
What are the five functions of education?
- Secondary socialisation
- Social solidarity
- Focal socialising agency
- Specialist skills
- Role allocation
What is SECONDARY EDUCATION?
Learning norms and values outside of the family. Children learn norms such as queuing up for dinner in the canteen
and being quiet in the library. Children learn values such as competition
This maintains value consensus
What is SOCIAL SOLIDARITY? (Durkheim)
Students feel part of society, sharing the same goals and values. Education helps to make sure that students are integrated fully into society, creating value consensus. Example: American kids pledging allegiance to the flag.
What is FOCAL SOCIALISING ACENGY? (Parsons)
Parsons argues that school is a focal socialising agency, acting as a bridge between the family and wider society.
In the family, children are judged by particularistic standards – they are treated as special individuals and judged differently from everyone else outside of the family. However, in wider society, people are judged by universalistic standards – the same standards apply equally to everyone
What are SPECIALIST SKILLS? (Durkheim)
Durkheim argues that schools teach students specialist skills for work. Schools provide a range of qualifications which gradually become more specialised. Students in England study for many GCSEs, giving them a range of knowledge and skills. Then at post-16, students study fewer courses gaining more specialised knowledge and skills. This is good for the economy
What is ROLE ALLOCATION? (Davis and Moore)
Education helps to prepare children to fit into the economy (the workplace).
According to Davis and Moore, schools ‘sift and sort’ students into their future
job roles through assessments and exams. This is called role allocation.
For example, a student who does well in BTEC Hairdressing, will go on to be a
hairdresser. Whilst a student who gets A* grades in Biology, will go on to be a
doctor.
What are some A03 povs for functionalist views? FEMINISM
Feminists are critical of the Functionalist claim that schools teach norms and values that benefit everyone. Feminists argue that schools pass on patriarchal (male-dominated) values, which disadvantages girls and women. Radical Feminists claim that girls face the male gaze
What are some A03 povs for functionalist views? MARXISM?
- Marxist, Bourdieu, disagrees with the functionalist view that schools teach the culture of society as a whole. Bourdieu argues that schools are middle class institutions, teaching middle class culture. Working class children are not integrated because their culture is devalued and ignored by the education system.
- Marxists argue that meritocracy is a myth (it does not exist). A student’s social class background determines their educational success, not their effort or ability. Working class children do less well than middle class children because they lack cultural capital – a particular set of tastes, values, interests and knowledge which lead to material rewards (money) and success
- Vocational courses such as BTECs are often seen as lower skilled courses in schools. Marxists argue that working class children are channelled into vocational courses, ending up in low paid, low status jobs.
- Marxists are critical of role allocation, arguing that there is no equality of opportunity in education – everyone does not start at the same point, and not everyone has the same chance of success in education, even when they have the same ability.
