Functionalist views of the role and purpose of education

Question 1

Social solidarity

Answer 1

The education system meets a functional pre-request of society by passing on the cultural and values of society. This is achieved hidden curriculum and PSHE lessons.
This helps to build social solidarity as it teaches students the core values of society.

Question 2

Teaching of specialist skills

Answer 2

Investment in education benefits the wider economy. Education can provide properly trained, qualified and flexible workforce. They argue that education makes sure that the best and most qualified people end up in jobs that require the most skill.

Question 3

Meritocracy

Answer 3

A system that fosters and rewards personal effort, ability, and talent through competition to determine social standing.

Question 4

Role allocation

Answer 4

The education systems provides a means to selecting and sifting people into the social hierarchy. In a meritocratic society access to jobs and power, wealth and status are directly linked to educational achievement.

Question 5

Durkheim

Answer 5

The functions of the education system are socialisation and social solidarity

Question 6

Parsons

Answer 6

Parsons believed that schools provide a link between the family and wider society which allows students to move from the ascribed status and particularistic values of the home to the meritocratic and universalistic values of wider society.

Question 7

Davis and Moore

Answer 7

The education systems provides a means to selecting and sifting people into the social hierarchy. In a meritocratic society access to jobs and power, wealth and status are directly linked to educational achievement.