What is functionalism
*CONSENSUS view
*Society has basic needs - need for social order
For society to survive it needs social solidarity (togetherness) in which everyone shares same norms and values.
DURKHEIMS 3 main functions of education
- SECONDARY SOCIALISATION - shared cultural norms and universal values.
- SOCIAL SOLIDARITY - sense of belonging, part of single community, binds people together by teaching everyone same norms and values. Prepares younger generation for life in wonder society.
- SPECIALIST SKILLS - skills and knowledge taught / needed to play a part at work and in wider society.
EVALUATION: Durkheims theory
Marxists - question where shared norms and values came from and if they serves anyones interest.
Hargreaves - more value is placed on competition than shared norms and values and social solidarity.
Postmodernists - durkheims claims are outdated
PARSONS theory
Modern society acts as a bridge between wider society and family
HOME - particularistic values (only apply to that child or family), ascribed status (fixed at birth)
EDUCATION - gradually introduces people to new way of living - new attitudes and expectations
WIDER SOCIETY - universalistic values (everyone treated the same, laws and values), achieved status (individual effort)
Meritocratic society
School is wider society in miniature
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT: everyone achieves their status through their own ability and effort, not where you come from but what you do that gives you your position in society.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: every individual to achieve their full potential.
EVALUATION: Parsons theory
Education is not meritocratic but is based off ability.
MC pupil put in top set and struggles they may not get moved down.
MC and WC not given the same opportunities.
Marxist would claim meritocracy is a myth.
DAVIS AND MOORE theory
Education selects and allocates pupils for work roles.
- most talented need to be allocated most important jobs.
- higher reward for more important jobs - encouraging competition.
- everyone has an equal chance of achieve the most important jobs as education is meritocratic.
- education sifts and sorts individual so that the ones with better qualifications are allocated most important jobs.
- lowest grades - lower skilled jobs.
- society more productive has an efficient economy.
Individuals get out what they put in making meritocracy fair.
EVALUATION: Davis and Moore
- Marxists - education fails to grade people by effort and ability. No meritocracy but reproduction of inequality in capitalist societies.
- Factors such as social class and ethnicity influence the jobs someone gets, e.g., poor qualification still access high paid jobs through family member - racism can prevent people getting high paid/important job roles.
Key terms
VALUE CONSENSUS - society being in agreement about goals, norms and values.
SOCIAL SOLIDARITY - the glue that binds people in society together - socialise them into same shared norms and values.
MERITOCRACY - social system based on individual ability.
PARTICULARISTIC VALUES - rules only apply to that family or that one child.
UNIVERSALISTIC VALUES - everyone is treated the same with the same law and values.
ROLE ALLOCATION - sifting and sorting people - those with better qualifications get the most important job roles within society.
