Paper 3 Section B 3. 3. How can differential educational achievement be explained? Flashcards
xplanations for differential educational achievement: • inside and outside school factors • structural, material and cultural factors • theoretical approaches • functionalism • Marxism • interactionism • social democratic • feminism • New Right consider differential educational achievement in relation to social class, gender and ethnicity.
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What are 2 points Durkheim believes are a functionalist education? (fix up question)
Education provides a cohesive society - Durkheim argued that all society needs to create a sense of social solidarity as they have shared beliefs and values.
Pre industrial societies, social society was created by people sharing common experiences as family or religion.
Education provides a vital role in shared culture and identity in the younger generation. Teaching history, music, RE and literature allows young people to take pride of their culture and achievements.
Education prepares us for a complex division of labour - Durkheim argues that education isn’t only about instilling shared values into children, but preparing young people for the world of work in industrial societies.
In preindustrial societies, children learnt skills that adults would need in their occupation. This is important as the younger generation were expected to also follow in their parent’s occupation (usually farm work). However, in industrial societies, individuals can choose from a wide range of specialised jobs and don’t necessarily have to follow their parents. Schools provide specialist skills and knowledge needed in a workplace which parents may not provide as they specialise in another field of work.
Evaluate Durkheim’s approach (❌) Use Britain being multicultural as an example.
Durkheim’s approach explains how education is more important as compulsory education is the new norm. However, the idea education’s based on shared values can be seen to be increasingly problematic in multicultural societies like Britain.
For example, Christianity provided a common set of values which was emphasised in aspects of schooling (worship, scripture reading, choirs). However, this is becoming less common because it’s widely argeeed that Britain has a multitude of different faiths (Islam and Buddhism to name a few), so therefore there should be an understanding of different faiths.
Criticise the following FUNCTIONALIST views on the functions of education:
1) Education reflects a shared set of values and norms, a value consensus.
2) Education is meritocratic, everyone has and equal chance to move up the hierarchy if they work hard at school.
3) Education meets the needs of employment and the economy by allowing job roles effectively and selecting people for a specialised work force.
4) Education transmits and reproducers a common culture and creates a homogenous society.
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2) Marxists would argue life isn’t fair as not everyone is offered the same opportunities at school. The borigousir often go to private schools where they’re offered classes in high culture ie étriquée lessons.
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