Functions of Education Flashcards
What do functionalists believe the function of education is
Main function of education is to transmit norms and values of a harmonious society and sort individuals into job roles
Functionalist theory - Durkheim
Durkheim believed that for society to operate individuals need a set of agreed norms and values known as value consensus or collective consciousness. Without it there would be social chaos known as anomie. Education teaches us these norms through secondary socialisation. Durkheim also believed it is important we feel we belong to society - social solidarity
Functionalist theory - Parsons
Parsons agreed with Durkheim but extended the ideas. He believed education was key to promoting the value of meritocracy.. Parsons saw education as a bridge between childhood and the adult world. Our status is ascribed as children as we are only special to our parents as role of son or daughter. As an adult we need to achieve our status. Meritocratic - all equal but we are compared and judged by ability.
Functionalist theory - Davis and Moore
Davis and Moore suggest their is a hierarchy of jobs in the job market and education selects the sorts of people for different levels in the job market. Most capable get the best jobs.
EVALUATION of functionalist theory
STRENGTHS
- evidence in terms of being tested with exams and learning about our heritage in history
- universal theory
- explain links between work and education well
WEAKNESSES
- education is not meritocratic
- marxists say schools transmit values that benefit capitalism
Neo - Liberalism and New Right Education beliefs.
Neo-liberalism is a set of beliefs that apply to the economy. They believe the state should not provide services such as education, health and welfare so governments should encourage competition. New Right is a conservative political point strongly influenced by neo liberalism. They believe education should be meritocratic and that there is problems with the state.
Neo - Liberalism and New Right - Chubb and Moe
Chubb and Moe suggest the US state run education system failed to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups, schooling fails to meet the requirements of the workforce and private schools are better as they have paying customers. Found 5% of low income children did better in a private school.
EVALUATION of Neo Liberalism and New Right
STRENGTHS
- Strong influence on government policy - 1988 education reform act
WEAKNESSES
- competition may not improve standards
- illusion of choice for the poor
- education cant compensate for inequality in society
Marxist theory of education
Marxists believe that education is a form of social control and is apart of the ideological state apparatus - agencies that control the proletariat by controlling ideas and transmitting norms and values to make them feel like capitalism is fair when it isnt eg education system ensures wc fail. Function is to justify class inequality and reproduces the class system.
Supporting evidence for Marxist theory - Bowles and Gintis Correspondence principle + Hidden curriculum
Suggested main function of education was to produce an ideal workforce. To make sure the bourgeoisie have an obedient and docile workforce to exploit to keep capitalism going. Correspondence principle - idea that school mirrors features of work and hidden curriculum - lessons learnt from school not explicitly taught- secreat socialisation
Evidence of the correspondence principle
acceptance of authority - teachers give orders and students obey without question - students have little control which prepares for expectation of work
motivation by external rewards - school qualifications and at work you are motivated by pay and promotion
rewards docile personalities - education functions to provide a subservient workforce of docile, uncritical and passive workers by rewarding those that show this
Marxist theory of education - Willis - why wc kids get wc jobs
Willis criticises Bowles and Gintis and says that boys want to do wc jobs so capitalism gets reproduced anyway. 18 months Willis studied 12 wc boy who he calls the lads - overt participant observation. Willis found they adopted an anti school subculture and were bored because schooling was irrelevent to them as they only wanted manual jobs that required no qualifications. When at work they traeted employers like teachers and had a laugh when they could which became their shop floor culture.
EVALUATION of marxist theory of education
STRENGTHS
- explains links between school and workplace well
WEAKNESSES
- out of date according to post modernists as education today produces diversity not inequality
- too deterministic and ignores free will
- does not explain patriarchy according to feminists
