Sociologists (education)

Question 1

Émile Durkheim (Functionalism)

Answer 1

What He Did: Developed the idea that education is crucial for social solidarity by teaching shared values and norms, thus helping society function smoothly.

Key Contribution: Education is a means of social integration and preparing individuals for society and work.

Question 2

Talcott Parsons (Functionalism)

Answer 2

What He Did: Introduced the idea that education is a bridge between the family and society, teaching children inclusive values and role allocation.

Key Contribution: Developed the concept of meritocracy, where people are rewarded based on abilities, not social background.

Question 3

Bowles & Gintis (Marxism)

Answer 3

What They Did: Argued that education reproduces social inequality by preparing students to accept the capitalist system.

Key Contribution: Developed the Correspondence Principle, stating that the education system mirrors the capitalist workplace, reinforcing class inequalities.

Question 4

Paul Willis (Neo-Marxism)

Answer 4

What He Did: Studied working-class boys who rejected school authority and created an anti-school subculture.

Key Contribution: Learning to Labour showed how the rejection of school values led to working-class jobs, reinforcing class inequality.

Question 5

Pierre Bourdieu (Marxism)

Answer 5

Developed the concept of cultural capital to explain how education benefits those from middle-class backgrounds.

Argued that schools favour students with the right cultural knowledge, sustaining social class inequalities.