functionalist views on education Flashcards
DURKHEIM social solidarity
Major function of education as the transmission of society’s norms and values from one generation to the next
Necessary to produce social solidarity where individuals feel they belong to a community (e.g. a school) that is much bigger than they are
The school is a mini society
Children learn how to interact and follow a fixed set of rules. Prepares the child for interacting with members in society as an adult and accepting social rules
DURKHEIM teaching specialist skills
he argues that individuals need to be taught specialist skills so they can take part in a higher more complex division of labor in which people have to co-operate to produce items
the co-operation of higher and lower skills promotes social solidarity (e.g. cleaners and surgeons)
DAVIS AND MOORE role allocation
the education system sifts and sorts people according to their abilities.
the most talented people gain high qualifications which lead to functionally important jobs with high rewards.
these talented few make this sacrifice by staying in education rather than making money. therefore society offers incentives through the promise of greater rewards, such as a higher salary
schools help to match children to jobs best suited to them.
PARSONS meritocracy
working hard= good results and vice versa.
society is fair and everyone has an equal opportunity.
but studies have shown that middle/working class, ethnicity, gender and all factors impact opportunities.
sees school as a ‘focal socializing agency’ in modern society acting as a bridge between family and a wider society.
needed because family and society operate on different principles
PARSONS value consensus (agreement)
i. equality of opportunity
ii. values of achievement
