Functionalist views on the education system

Question 1

Durkheim - social solidarity and specialist skills

Answer 1

• individuals must feel part of a single community. education transmits society’s beliefs and attitudes to the next gen through secondary socialisation eg history brings shared heritage. creates a value consensus

Specialist skills - process/production needs many specialists, individuals need the knowledge to perform there role

Question 2

Talcott parsons - meritocracy

Answer 2

• school acts as a bridge between family and society, children learn a new way of behaving as these work on different principles
• particularistic
• universalistic
• school and work we passthrough own effort and ability, preparing us for society meritocratic principles

Question 3

Davis and Moore

Answer 3

Role allocation - selects and allocates pupils to their future work roles, by assessing and matching them to the job best suited. Acts as a proving ground for ability (sifts & sorts)

Question 4

Criticising Durkheim

Answer 4

school disseminated dominant ideologies- maintains class and gender division. classrooms reflect a diverse and globalised postmodern society

Question 5

Criticising Talcott parsons

Answer 5

•Equal opportunity in education does not exist, it is influenced by other things eg class background.
•there are many elite jobs such as class, gender and ethnicity still have an important influence

Question 6

Criticising Davis and Moor

Answer 6

as everyone does not start their education at the same point then there is not the same chance of success even with the same ability

Question 7

Functionalism explanations of the role and functions of education system

Answer 7

• a “consensus theory” of society. It focuses on the need for social order.
• functionalists view society as a system of integrated parts - each institution has a role to play in maintaining society (the organic analogy).
• the family’s role is viewed as the source of primary socialisation - transmission of culture. Secondary socialisation promotes value consensus.
• if institutions such as the family or education are not play effective role, society experiences anomie.

Question 8

supporting durkheim

Answer 8

the history curriculum and british values

Question 9

supporting parsons

Answer 9

government policies aim to support the concept of a meritocracy- they can be compensatory eg pupil premium

Question 10

supporting davis and moore

Answer 10

the standardised exam system provides equality of opportunity and ensures that the most talented are in the most important jobs