Section 3 - Education

Question 1

Functions of the education system

Answer 1

. Transmits knowledge and skills
. Intergrades people into society
. Improved healthcare
. Greater social awareness
. Breaks down social class differences, gender and cultural inequalities

Question 2

Functionalists view of education - Durkheim - secondary socialisation and social solidarity

Answer 2

. passes on norms and values that integrate people into society through the teaching of history and heritage

.this creates a sense of social solidarity

. Modern industrial economies have a complex division of labour

. teaches individuals specialist knowledge and skills needed to play their part in the social division of labour

Question 3

Functionalists view of education - parsons -universalistic values , secondary socialisation and meritocratic principles

Answer 3

. Education is a form of secondary socialisation

. Education is bridge between family and wider society

. Schools judge us with the same universalistic standards

. Hidden curriculum - school and work, we have to interact with others, according to a set of impersonal rules that apply to everyone.

.Education is meritocratic

. School acts as a society in miniature

Question 4

Functionalists view of education - David and Moore -role allocation and specialist skills

Answer 4

. Schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to future work roles

. Inequality is necessary to ensure the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people

. Education shifts and sort us accordingly ability

. It will be dangerous for less able people to perform rules such a surgeon a pilot so we’re sorted to make most effective use of talents and maximise productivity

Question 5

Cons / evaluation of functionalist theory of education

Answer 5

. Education is not meritocratic - not everyone has same opportunities- eg private schools have more resources

.education doesn’t teach specialist skills - education is more generalised , you gets lots of knowledge but not as much practical skills/ training - criticises Durkheim as not everyone we’re not shown how to integrate into society

. Ignores inequalities in education

. Interactionists think functionalists have Over-socialised view of society - not all pupils follow the rules without retaliation - forget free will

Question 6

Social solidarity

Answer 6

Students feel as though they are apart of something bigger than theirselves

Question 7

meritocratic

Answer 7

everyone achieved due to their own skills , ability and talent

Question 8

hidden curriculum

Answer 8

everything u learn in school that isn’t explicitly taught

Question 9

Role allocation

Answer 9

shifting and sorting people in terms of their talent and ability

Question 10

universalistic values

Answer 10

same rules and standards applied to everyone

Question 11

particularistic values

Answer 11

rules and values depending on your status in relationships - family ect

Question 12

The Marxist theory of education

Answer 12

. Education is a form of social control
. Creates a subservient workforce
. Creates a myth of meritocracy
. Private school be if it’s the wealthy
. Achievement is linked to social class

Question 13

Bowles & gintis

Answer 13

. Capitalism requires passive and explosive workforce
. Key concepts : the correspondence principle , hidden curriculum and the myth of meritocracy

Question 14

The Hidden curriculum

Answer 14

. Learnt through day to day workings of school , the key to making you a passive and explosive worker

Question 15

The correspondence principle

Answer 15

. The hierarchy between within school corresponds with the workplace - authority is obeyed and competition encouraged
. Norms ans values in school prepare for workplace

Question 16

similarities between the school and the workplace

Answer 16

. Hierarchy of authority in both
. Alienation through lack of control over production or education
. External rewards outside of work/job itself

Question 17

Similarities between functionalist and Marxist views on education

Answer 17

Both agree it prepares you for the workforce - Marxists just believe it’s a subservient workforce
. Both think the hidden curriculum is important

Question 18

Differences between functionalist and Marxist views on education

Answer 18

. Functionalists believe education is meritocratic and Marxists believe meritocracy is a myth
. Marxists believe the education system socialises children to accept their lower position with the capitalist society and functionalists believe school gives them an equal opportunity to achieve in life if they apply themselves - no matter the class