Perspectives + roles in society Flashcards
1
Q
Functionalism: What are the 4 functions of education?
A
- Socialisation + social solidarity (Durkheim)
- Meriocracy/ bridge between family + society (Parsons)
- Developing human capital (Schultz)
- Role allocation (Davis + Moore)
2
Q
What are the 2 main functions of education for Durkheim?
A
- Social solidarity
- Specialist skills
3
Q
Summarise social solidarity:
A
- Education system (ES) helps create social solidarity by transmitting soicetys cultures (shared values and beliefs)
For example~ teaching history instils a shared heritage
- School acts as a “society in miniature”, preparing us for life in wider society
For example~ both in school and wors we have to cooperate with strangers
4
Q
Summarise specialist skills:
A
- Modern economic companies involves cooperation of many specialists. This promots social solidarity .
- For social solidairity to be successful, each specialist must have nesessary skills requared to perform their role
- Durkheim argues education teaches individuals specialist knowledge they need to play part in the division of labour
5
Q
Summarise Parsons meritocracy/bridge:
A
- Sees school as “focal socialising agency”, acting as a bridge between family and wider society. This is so children learn a new way of living/coping with wider world
- Within the family, the child is jusged by particularistic values (rules that only apply to you). Similarly the childs status is ascribed (fixed by birth)
- Whereas in school + wider society, we’re all judged by universalistic values (students are judged against the same standards) + status is acheived, NOT ascribed
- Parsons sees school as preparing us to move from school to wider society.
6
Q
Summarise Davis + Moore role allocation:
A
- School select + allocate pupils to their future work roles
- They argue inequality is necessary to ensure most importamt roles in society are done by the most talented. This encourages competition
- Education is where people can show what they can do, it “sifts + sorts” according to their ability.
- The most able gain highest qualifications + get given the most rewarding jobs
7
Q
Summarise developing human capital:
A
- Blau + Duncan argue that modern economy depends on using human capital (its workers skills) for its prosperity
- They argue a meritocratic education systen does this best.
- This makes the most effective use of their talents + maximises ptoductivity
8
Q
Evaluation of Functionalists:
A
- Myth of meritocracy (private education)
- Marxists ~ education system only transmits ideology of the ruling class
- Interactionists ~ functionalists overlook the fact some pupils are not passive and actually reject school values.
9
Q
What do Neo - Liberals argue?
A
- The state should not provide services such as education, welfare + healthcare.
- The government should encourage competition, privatise state run businesses + deregualte markets
- The value of education lies in how well it enables the country to compete, this can only be done if schools become more business like.
10
Q
What does The New Right argue?
A
- Argue the state takes a “one suxe fits all” apporach, which disregards local needs. Local consumers have no say.
- Schools that waste money + get poor results are not answerable to the consumers. This means low standars of achievement.
- The solution to this is the Marketisation of eduction . Competition will bring greater diversity + increase schools ability to meet the local peoples needs
- Also believe that education should affirm national identity
11
Q
What are the 2 things the new right speak about?
A
- Chubb + Moe ~ Consumer choice
- 2 roles for the state
12
Q
Summarise Chubb + Moes consumer choice:
A
- They argue based on evidence that shows oupils from lower incomed families consistenly do 5% better in private schools than state school.
- They proposed the system of each family will be given a VOUCHER to spend on buying education from a school of their choice.
- This woulf force schools to improve themselves so they can attract as many consumers as this would be their main source of income. They would have to compete.
13
Q
Summarise the 2 roles for the state:
A
- One role ~ The state should impose a framework which helps parents make a choice to choose a school
Example~ Posting league tables
- Second role ~ State ensures that schools transmit a shared culture. Emphasis on british culture
14
Q
Evaluation of new Right/ Neo Liberalism:
A
- Marxists ~ educations doesnt impose a shared national culture, but culture of ruling class dominate, devaluing w/c + ethnic minorities
- The real cause of low educational standars is not state control, but soical inequality + inadequate funding of state schools.
- Gerwits + Ball ~ competiton between schools benefity ruling class who can use their cultural + economic capital to access more desirable school.
15
Q
Whats Marxists perspective on education?
A
- They see it as based on class division + capitalist exploitation
- Class conflict can come if w/c realise they’re being exploited, they may demand more.
- Marx belives if proletariat unite, they can overthrow capitalism + create an equal society
- Bourgeoisie controls the state, which is a key component of the education system
- Marxists see education as functioning to prevent revolution + maintain capitalism
