Functonalist perspective on Education Flashcards
What is the main focus Functionalists on Education?
they emphasis of the posistive functions on education
What is the first posistive function that education performs?
Education creates social solidarity
How does functionalist define social solidarity ?
When we feel as if wer are part of something bigger
What did Emile Durkeim argue about school?
that school makes us feel like we are part of something bigger and ‘school is a society in miniature’ preparing us for life in wider society
According to Durkeim, use an example of how does school make us feel like we are part of something bigger
Through learning of subjects such as history and English giving us a sense of identity
According to Durkeim, use an example of how does school prepare us for life?
Both in school and work we have to cooperate with people who are neither friends or family, so it gets us ready on how to deal with people at work
What is the second posistive function on education?
Education teaches learning specialist skills for work
What was Durkeim argument about education teaching specialist skills
An adavcanced industrial economy required a massive and complex Division of Labour and individuals learn the diverse skills necesary for this to take place
According to Durkeim, use an example of how does school provide specialist skills for work ?
As students learn the same subjects in the start, they later on specialise when doing GCSE
What does Talcott Parson argue about education?
education acts as a ‘focal socializing agency’ in modern society as its neccesary because the family and the wider soicety work in different principles and children need to adapt to it
How does school contribute the ‘focal socializing agency’?
They play a central role in the process of secondary socialisation, taking over from primary socialisation
What are the standards in the family?
Particularistic standards
What are the aspects of particularistic standards ?
- children are judged by rules that only apply to the particular child
- individual children are given tasks based on their different abilities and judged according to their unique characteristics
What are standards in school?
universalistic standards
What are the aspects of universalistic standards?
rules and laws are applied equaly to all people irrespective of the unique character of the individual
