functions of education Flashcards
what is the functionalist view?
Consensus- society is based on the shared norms and values that maintain social bonds
identify 2 main functions of education
- maintaining value consensus.
- preparing young people for work
what does maintaining value consensus mean?
transmitting shared heritage and sustaining social solidarity.
what does preparing the young for work consist of?
happens through secondary socialisation, meritocracy
who are the three main functionalists?
- Durkheim
- Parsons.
3.Davis and moore
what are the two functions of education according to durkheim?
- social solidarity
- preparing the young for work
how does education promote social solidarity?
transmits shared norms and values which bind people together - it teaches universalistic rules.
how does education prepare the young for work?
Skills needed to participate in society, creates a division of labour.
what does parsons say is the function of education?
list two
- secondary socialisation
- meritocracy
what is secondary socialisation?
parson
allows students to move from the ascribed status of the home to the universalistic standards of education
what is meritocracy?
it is based on praise on individual achievement
Why does Durkheim emphasise the importance of teaching societies shared history?
Gives new members of society a sense of shared identity based on the past i.e helps maintain value consensus.
According to Parsons, how is education a bridge between the family and wider society?
The families specific values are replaced with societies universalistic values creating value consensus - everyone shares the same values.
According to Parsons, how is school a ‘society in miniature’?
Both school and society are meritocratic, in school, success and failure based on ability prepares them for society’s competitiveness.
What does Davis and Moore say the role of education is?
role allocation
what is role allocation?
davis and moore
provides a means of selecting people into social hierarchy. power and wealth are linked to educational achievement
What are the evaluations of functionalism?
1) . Meritocracy is a myth.
2) . Values transmitted represent the ruling-class.
3) . Education may not equip people for work.
4) . Too deterministic.
How is meritocracy a myth?
Bowles and Gintis
achievement is based on social class, not ability, convinces people that failure is there own fault
How do Marxists criticise functionalists?
Values transmitted aren’t societies shared values, they represent the ruling-class.
How can the link between education and workers be criticised?
It’s sometimes difficult to see a direct link between the subjects studied and the requirements of workers.
How is the functionalist view too deterministic?
Interactionism = Not all pupils passively accept school’s values, some reject them and rebel.
