Mini topic 3: Theories on the role of education Flashcards
Functionalist view on the role of education
1. do they have a positive view or negative view? + ROLE
2. what are 3 sociologist?
- 1 sociologist + criticism
- 2 sociologist + criticism
- 3 sociologist + criticism + THERE IS EXTRA SOCIOLOGIST FOR LAST ONE!
- positive view on the role of education
- ROLE: performs several functions which help maintain social solidarity thus benefiting both individuals and society.
- Durkheim
-parsons - Davies and Moore
DURKHEIM: role of education has 2 functions
1.Promotes social solidarity
2.Passes on specialist skills
1.Promotes social solidarity:
Education creates social solidarity by transmitting societies culture, norms and values to new generations
Schools are “society in miniature” - preparing students for life in the wider world
2.Passes on specialist skills:
Education teaches students the specialist knowledge needed by employees due to the complex division of labour
What is criticism for Durkheim?
Wolf report= education system does not teach specialist skills adequately for e.g. high quality apprenticeships are rare
PARSON: ROLE HAS 2 FUNCTIONS
1.Bridge between the family and wider society
2.Secondary socialisation
1.Bridge between the family and wider society
-In family, individuals are judged on particularistic standards and hold ascribed status, it is fixed at birth
In wider society =
-We are judged on universalistic standards because society is meritocratic
-Education is like society it is meritocratic children get used to being judged on meritocratic and universalistic standards which prepares them for the wider society.
2.Secondary socialisation
-Education is the focal socialising agency after the family
-It passes on society norms and values to younger generations
What is criticism of parson?
-Education is not meritocratic. There is evidence that fact such as class, ethnicity and gender that can affect achievement
DAVIES AND MOORE: 1 FUNCTION!
1. Role allocation
-Inequality is essential in society as most important roles should be filled by talented people
-Important roles = highly rewarded
-This will create competition for the top jobs ensure they go to the best people
-Education is to sift and sort individuals to their future roles
Through education = individuals show their level of ability as the most will be able to get the highest qualifications
criticism of Davies and Moore
-New right=education fails to prepare students for work because of the interference from the government
Theories on the role of education - new right theory
1. do they have positive or negative view?
2.How are they similar to functionalist ( 3 ways)
3. Why they negative view (criticise education) ( 3 ways)
4. what are solutions ( new)
5. what are two roles the state should have?
5.Criticism of new right
- Negative view on the role of education because of gov interference.
Similar to functionalist by 3 ways:
1.Some Individuals are more talented than others so they should get the best jobs.
2.Education system should be meritocratic
3.Education is main agency of secondary socialisation
criticise the education system in 3 ways :
1.Education is failing to fulfil its purpose to prepare individuals for the world of work because of the government’s interference.
2.Takes “ one size fits all” approach ignoring the needs of parents and students
3.Education system is inefficient =creates a labour force that isn’t prepared for the world of work thus Damaging to the economy
- the solution to failing education system is marketisation of education
Chubb and Moe = opening the education system to market forces will create competition between schools and give choice to consumers
State should have two main roles
-Provide a framework =within which schools compete against each other for e.g exam league tables and Ofsted.
-Schools transmit shared values by imposing the national curriculum on all schools
criticism :
1.Competition and parental choice benefits only the m/c who can use cultural and economic capital to get their children to the best schools
2.Marxist argue education passes on ruling class ideology not shared values
Marxist view on the role of education
1. positive or negative view on role of education
2. who are 3 sociologist?
1 sociologist + criticism
2 sociologist + criticism
3 sociologist + criticism
- negative view on role of education as It exists to serve the needs of capitalism and protect ruling class power
- Althusser ,Bowles and Gintis and Willis
Althusser:
- Education system protects the ruling class power because it is apart of ideological state apparatus
It does this by fulfilling two functions:
1.Reproducing class inequality: failing each successive generation of w/c so they can’t better themselves . for e.g entering them for foundations exams and through setting
2.Legitimising class inequality : producing ideologies that disguise the truth. So w/c system think the system is fair e.g you have failed because of your low attendance and lack of revision.
criticism for Althusser:
-Over emphasis the influence of class but doesn’t look at the other factors that lead to social inequality in education such as gender and ethnicity
Bowles and Gintis :
-Role of education is to produce obedient and unquestioning workforce that will accept inequality as inevitable does this through:
correspondence principle - close link between school and work.
1- hierarchies= in school headteachers at top and students are below, in workplace boss are at the top and workers are below
- rewards = rewarded with grades in schools, in workplace rewarded with pay
3- fragmentation of knowledge = schools divided into unconnected subjects . in workplace, divided into unconnected task
Both student and workers are alienated from their work due to lack of control and the separation of knowledge
Education prepares students for Fordism - boring and repetive work
Education rewards=submissive, punctual and compliant students
Hidden curriculum=students learn through everyday life at school for e.g to obey authority and be punctual
- Legitimization of class inequality = producing ideas which justify inequality
Education is a “myth making machine” .
biggest myth=”myth of meritocracy”- those who succeed due to them being m/c and the reason for their success was because of “hard work and natural ability”. Made w/c poor and not smart enough
Blame is placed on individual not capitalism therefore it prevents w/c from rebelling
Bowels and Gintis criticism:
- Deterministic-assume students accept the ruling class ideology
Willis :
- role of education as reproducing and legitimating class inequality by creating obedient workforce
- His work is less deterministic-he acknowledges free will of students
Willis studied 12 white working class lads- used participant observation, group interviews and unstructured interviews
They had counter school subculture opposed to school
They were scornful to those who students who did obey the school
Held sexist attitudes
Found school boring and meaningless
Broke the school rules by smoking and drinking
They didn’t know hard work at school would lead to middle class jobs
By holding this attitudes boys failed their exams and were given low paid jobs
criticism of Willis
- Romanticises the lads - turns them into w/c heroes despite their anti school and sexist behaviour
feminist view on the role of education
1. positive or negative view of education?+ why?
- what is 3 ways they show this?
- what is criticism?
Negative view on role of education - as it to maintain patriarchy and gender inequality for the benefit of men and disadvantage the women
- textbook: 2 ways
- Language used in textbook-use gendered language ( him/he/man) this downgrades women and making them seem invisible
- Images used in textbook tend to present men and women in traditional gender roles e.g men= doctor, female= nurse
best says “75% of female characters were portrayed in domestic roles”) - Teachers interaction with students: 2 ways
- teachers show more interest in boys than girls whilst teaching and given them more help and asking them more questions .
- Teacher have higher expectation of boys achievement and future careers than girls
( sociologist = Spender: Girls get less attention to boys in the classroom=reflection of the dominance that men have in society.) - Subject choice:
1.Girls tend to choose “femine” subjects such as health social care and English and men tend to choose “masculine” subjects such as maths, science, business etc
Can affect their career choices in future
CRITICISM: Ignore improvements made to the education system since 1960s which have decreased gender equality
