functionalist views on Education Flashcards
According to functionalists what are the functions/roles of education
-Creating social solidarity
-Role allocation
-Secondary socialisation/Teaching core values
-Teaching specialist skills for work
How does the education system create social solidarity
Schools make us feel as if we are part of something bigger by learning subjects like History and English which gives us a shared sense of identity
How is role allocation done through the education system
-Education allocates people to the most appropriate jobs for their talents using examinations and qualifications.This ensures that the most talented are allocated to the occupations that are most important for society.
How is secondary socialisation done through the education system
The education system teaches children key norms and values that help them survive in society
How does the education system teach specialist skills
-Durkheim noted that an advanced industrial economy required a massive and complex division of labour. At school individuals learn the diverse skills needed for this to take place.
Who are the key functionalists
-Durkheim
-Talcott Parsons
-Davis and Moore
What are Durkheim’s views on education
-Durkheim saw the major function of education as
-> the passing on of society’s norms and values ,
->teaching the skills needed for future occupations / division of labour.
Durkheim - The passing on of society’s norms and values
-Durkheim saw the major function of education as
the passing on of society’s norms and values which is done through the formal and hidden curriculum. Education also creates social solidarity , for example through the teaching of history which provides the link between the individual and the society.
-Durkheim also saw the school as a miniature version of society , in school children must interact with other members of the school community in terms of a fixed set of rules. This experience prepares them for interacting with members of society
Durkheim - education and the division of labour
-He argued that the education system teaches the skills needed for future occupations , industrial society has a specialised division of labour , people have specialized jobs which require specific skills and knowledge.
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Evaluation of Durkheim’s theory
1)Society does not have a shared single culture
-Durkheim assumed that society has a shared culture that can be passed on by the education system which is not true as countries such as Australia , Canada , Mexico , Singapore are multicultural. As a result there is no single culture for schools to pass on.
2)Criticised by Marxists and Radical feminists
-Marxists argue that the education system serves the interests of the ruling class rather than those of society as a whole.
Radical feminists see education as serving the interests of patriarchy.
3)
What are Talcott Parsons theories on education
-Education and secondary socialisation
-Education and role allocation
Explain Parsons theory on education and secondary socialisation
-He argued that after primary socialisation in the family the school takes over as the main socialising agent.
It prepares children for their adult roles
The school helps children move from the particularistic standards found within the home to the universalistic standards of the outside world. Children move from ascribed to achieved status.
Parsons argues that the school represents the society in miniature , modern society is based on achievement on universalistic standards, by reflecting the operation of society as a whole the school prepares young people for their adult roles.
Explain Parsons theory on education and value consensus
-Schools socialise individuals into the values of society. Parsons argued that schools introduce two major values;
- The value of achievement -
By encouraging students to strive for high levels of educational attainment and rewarding those who succeed
-The value of equality of opportunity -
places individuals in the same situation in the classroom and allows them to complete on equal terms in examinations
Evaluate Parsons theory on education
Davis and Moores theories on education
-They see education as a means of role allocation and link it directly to social stratification.
Education system sifts, sorts and grades individuals in terms of their talents and abilities, it rewards the most talented with high qualifications, which in turn provides entry to society’s functionally most important occupations
Evaluation of Davis and moores theories on education
