key studies-The role and function of education Flashcards
Durkheim-functionalist
Durkheim identified two main functions of education :
creating social solidarity and teaching specialist skills.
Durkheim argues that society needs a sense of
solidarity and also argues that without social solidarity social life and cooperation would be impossible because each individual would pursue their own selfish desires.
Durkheim also argues that education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills that they need to play part in the social division of labour
parsons-functionalists
sees school as ‘focal socilaising agency’ in modern scoiety, acting as a bridge between ducation and socila inequality.This bridge is needed because family and society operate on different principles, so children need to learn a new way of livivng if they are to cope with the wider world.
Davis and moore-functionalists
see education as a device for selection and role allocation. They focus on the relationship between education and social inequality. They argue that inequality is neccersary to ensure that the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people.
Chubb and Moe- new right
they are argue that the state run in america has failed because:
- it has not created equal oppportunity and has failed the needs of the disadvantaged groups
- it is inefficient because it fails to produce pupils with skills needed by the economy
- prvate schools deliver high quality education because, unlike state schools, they are answerable to paying concumers -the parents
Althusser- marxist
argues the state consists of two elements or apparatuses, both of which serve the bourgeoise in power:
the repressive state apparatus: which maintain the force of the bourgeoise by force of threat by it includes police
the ideoological state apparatus: which maintain the rule of the bourgeoise by contolling peoples ideasvalues and beliefs.include religion , media
Bowles and Gintis- marxist
argue that there are close parallels between schooling and work in capatalist society.Both schools and work places are hierachies, with headteachersor bosses at the top making decisions. school mirrows the workplace
willis- marxist
study of wc boys in the midlands area who misbehaved and had a negative view on education and had formed an anit school subculture. this arugues against durkheim as willis concluded that school was not working very well as an agent of socialisation
What does social solidarity mean
Part of a community. Society working together
What does focal socialising agency
Parsons - bridge between the family and wider society
What does pluralistic standards mean
Rules that apply to one child this can be in both school and wider society , a persons status is largely achieved not ascribed
What are universities standards
In wider society where rules apply to everyone such as in schools children are judged by a clear measure of achievement
What does meritocracy mean
Where you achieve rewards through your own efforts
What does society in miniature mean
How school prepares us for life in wider society
What new right and neoliberals argue
Argue that the state shouldn’t provide services such as education and health. They believe in competition
What are the similarities between neoliberals and functionalism
- both believe that some people are more naturally talented
- favour these education system running on meritocratic principles
- believe that education should be competitive
- believe that students should be socialised with shared values and national identity
What are the differences between new right and functionalists
- new right do not believe that the current education system is achieving these goals
- this is because education is still run by the state
- believe that schools should be marketised
Criticisms AO3 of schools
- Post modernist argue that schools now produce diversity, not inequality
- pupils have free will can reject the school ideology
- feminists argue that schools also produce patriarchy
what is the capitalist class in Marxism
‘bourgeoisie’- the minority, employers who own the means of business eg land. Make profits by exploiting labour of the working class
what is the working class in marxism
‘proletariat’- forced to sell labour power. Own no means of production, poorly paid and work in jobs which are underpaid and unsatisfying
Althusser
the ideological state apparatus. ways that the bourgeoisie keep on power.
what is the RSA
repressive state apparatus:force and threats eg police courts and army
what is the ISA
ideological state apparatus: controlling peoples ideas eg religion media and education
why is education ISA
1: reproduces class inequality, fails WC pupils from generation to generation
2: legitimates (justifies) class inequality disguising their true cause eg persuades people to accept their position
Bowles and Gintis
schooling in capitalist america:
- capitalism requires a work force with certain attitudes accept handwork,orders and law pay
- they see this as the role of education system, reproduce obedient work force
- schools reward obedient and submissive behaviour
what is the correspondence principle
close parallels between school and capitalist society. Education mirrors the work place. operation through the ‘hidden curriculum’ outside of lessons
what is ‘hidden curriculum’
all things learnt without being formally taught and often acquired simply through everyday working of school such as attitudes of obedience and competitiveness
evaluation of functionalist perspective
- durkheim= education doesn’t teach specialist skills adequately
- equal opportunity in school doesn’t exist for example class back ground
- neoliberals and new right= argue that the state education system fails to prepare young people adequately for work
evaluation of new right perspective
- marxist=doesn’t produce shared culture
- Gerwitz and Ball= competition between schools only benefits middle class
evaluation of marxist approaches
- post modernists argue that education now reproduces diversity not inequality
- Bowles and Gintis= assume pupils have no free will and passively accept indoctrination
ball and whitty
note how marketisation policies such as exam league tables and the funding formula reproduces class inequalities by creating inequalities between schools.
Barlett
notes how league tables encourage 'cream skimming'- 'good' schools can be more selective ( recruit high achieving, mainly middle class pupils) 'silt- shifting'= 'good' can avoid taking less able students who will get bad results and damage league tables
Gerwitz
parental choice: Gerwitz found that differences in parents economic and cultural capital leads to differences in choices of secondary schools:
1- privileged skilled choosers
2- disconnected local choosers
3- semi skilled choosers
David
marketisation (claim ) encourages diversity between schools gives parents more choice and raise standards. Also describes marketised education as a parentocracy. Parentocracy - power shifts away from schools
