Parsons: Secondary socialisation and meritocracy

Question 1

Education acts as an agent of secondary socialisation

Answer 1

Education is an agent of secondary socialisation through which people learn how to behave in society. Unlike the family (which is our primary agent of socialisation) which judges us by particularistic standards, wider society judges people according to impersonal & universal standards.

Schools judge all children against the same standards in terms of behaviour & achievement. E.g. all pupils follow the same rules, wear the same uniform, study the same.

In this way people learn about the basic ways of behaving in the adult world in the “gentler, more forgiving” environment of school. Therefore, school is said to be like a society in miniature in which people have to learn to co-operate with people who are neither friends nor family.

Question 2

Education exists as a meritocracy

Answer 2

Status in schools is achieved rather than ascribed – you earn it through success in exams, rather than being ‘given’ a status automatically.

Functionalists argue that schools are based on meritocratic principles as everyone is given an equal opportunity to succeed, for example education is free for all pupils, all pupils have the opportunity to sit the same exams & the opportunity of a university education is available to all. In a meritocracy rewards are given through the effort & ability of individuals.