Role and functions of education

Question 1

What does Human Capital refer to?

Answer 1

The stock of knowledge, skills, values, habits, and creativity that makes someone an economic asset to society.

Question 2

Define Hidden Curriculum.

Answer 2

The informal learning processes that happen in school, teaching students the norms and values of society.

Question 3

What are Particularistic Values?

Answer 3

Values and rules which only apply to a specific person in a given situation (e.g., Home).

Question 4

What are Universalistic Values?

Answer 4

Values and rules which apply to all members of society equally.

Question 5

What is the Ideological State Apparatus?

Answer 5

A social institution whose main role is to pass on the dominant ideology of the ruling class.

Question 6

What does Repressive State Apparatus mean?

Answer 6

A social institution whose role is to enforce the dominant ideology by force or threat of force (e.g., police).

Question 7

What does the Correspondence Principle indicate?

Answer 7

The ways in which the education system mirrors the world of work, such as hierarchy and punctuality.

Question 8

List the four functions of education according to Functionalism.

Answer 8

• Socialisation and Social Solidarity
• Developing Human Capital
• Role Allocation
• Bridge between family and society.

Question 9

Who is the key thinker associated with Socialisation and Social Solidarity?

Answer 9

Durkheim.

Question 10

What is the role of education in building social solidarity?

Answer 10

It teaches students the core values of society through the hidden curriculum and PSHE lessons.

Question 11

What is the Myth of Meritocracy?

Answer 11

The belief that education provides equal opportunities for all, which is contradicted by the existence of private education.

Question 12

What do Marxists argue about the role of education?

Answer 12

Education maintains capitalism and reproduces social inequality.

Question 13

What is the function of the hidden curriculum according to Marxists?

Answer 13

It reinforces social inequality and maintains ruling class ideology.

Question 14

Who proposed the idea that education is a means of role allocation?

Answer 14

Davis and Moore.

Question 15

What is the New Right view of education?

Answer 15

Similar beliefs to Functionalists but argue that the state takes too much of a role and that marketisation would raise standards.

Question 16

What did Chubb and Moe advocate for in education policy?

Answer 16

Education vouchers and parentocracy.

Question 17

What does Neo-Marxism suggest about working-class acceptance of their position?

Answer 17

It rejects the view that the working class passively accept their position to become compliant workers.

Question 18

What do Morrow and Torres claim about student identity in postmodern societies?

Answer 18

Students create their own identities rather than being constrained by traditional structures like class.

Question 19

What is the relationship between education and economic success according to some critiques?

Answer 19

There is a weak link between educational achievement and economic success.

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The process of education is much more complex and involves _______.

Answer 20

[teacher-pupil relationships].

Question 21

True or False: The hidden curriculum is shaped to assist middle-class achievement and deter working-class achievement.

Answer 21

True.

Question 22

List three criticisms of the functionalist perspective on education.

Answer 22

• Ignores dysfunctional aspects of education
• Myth of meritocracy
• Hidden curriculum reinforces social inequality.

Question 23

What role does private education play in the context of Marxist theory?

Answer 23

It prepares children of the elite for positions of power.

Question 24

How do social democrats view the impact of government policies on working-class achievement?

Answer 24

They suggest that policies such as comprehensivisation have improved the chances of the working class.