functionalist views of eduction Flashcards
what is one functionalist view of education?
- creating social solidarity
- Emile Durkheim argue that school makes us feel like we are part of something bigger (could be done through the learning of subjects such as history + English which gives us a sense of identity)
What is a second functionalist view of education?
- learning specialist skills for work
Durkheim noted that an advanced industrial economy required a massive and complex Division of Labour. At school, individuals learn the diverse skills necessary for this to take place. For example, we may all start off learning the same subjects, but later on we specialize when we do GCSEs.
What is a third functionalist view of education?
- teaching us core values
Talcott Parsons argued that education acts as the ‘focal socializing agency’ in modern society. School plays the central role in the process of secondary socialisation, taking over from primary socialisation
What is a third functionalist view of education?
Role allocation and meritocracy
Education allocates people to the most appropriate job for their talents using examinations and qualifications. This ensures that the most talented are allocated to the occupations that are most important for society. This is seen to be fair because there is equality of opportunity – everyone has a chance of success and it is the most able who succeed through their own efforts – this is known as meritocracy
List four functionalist views of education…
- creating social solidarity
- learning specialist skills for work
- teaching us core values
- role allocation and meritocracy
What is one positive of the functionalist view
Exclusion and truancy rates are very low, suggesting there is very little active resistance to schooling.
List another positive of the functionalist view of education
Exclusion and truancy rates are very low, suggesting there is very little active resistance to schooling.
List a third positive of the functionalist view of education
Schools do try to foster ‘solidarity’ – through PSHE lessons and teaching British Values for example
What is one negative of the functionalist view of education?
Marxists argue the education system is not meritocratic – e.g. private schools benefit the wealthy.
What is another negative of the functionalist view of education
Today, school focuses more on developing the individual rather than teaching duties and responsibilities that individuals should adopt towards society – it’s more about the individual and less about solidarity
What is a third negative of the functionalist view of education
Functionalism ignores the negative sides of school – e.g. bullying and there are a minority for who it doesn’t work, such as those permanently excluded.
