functions of education

Question 1

Functionalist

Answer 1

To create social solidarity: integrate people into society and give people a sense of belonging. Education teaches us the value consensus and agreement of what’s important in society. This is taught in subjects but also through hidden curriculum. This gives individuals commitment to the social group and creates feelings of togetherness

Role allocation: select and allocate pupils to their future work role. Education sifts and sorts according to ability, most able to the most functionally important jobs in society. Those who are unable to achieve in the education system fulfil other necessary jobs in society. Society is more productive.

Question 2

marxist

Answer 2

The reproduction of class inequalities: Key roles of the education system in capitalist societies are to legitimise class inequalities and reproduce the class structure. Those from m/c backgrounds have more access to cultural capital and the w/c do not possess this, so their educational failure is inevitable. This is functional as the class structure is reproduced as what counts as educational knowledge is just that of the dominant social class