the functionalist perspective on education-Durkheim

Question 1

overall view of functionalist’s perspective on education

Answer 1

-based on view that society is a system of independent parts held together by shared culture or value consensus

Question 2

Durkheim believes schools have two main functions

Answer 2

1) creating social solidarity
2)secondary socialisation

Question 3

social solidarity

Answer 3

-durkheim argues society needs sense of solidarity, its inidivudal members feel part of a single ‘body’ or community
-without social solidarity = social life + cooperation= impossible as each individual pursue their own selfish desire
-children see themselves as part of a bigger picture + learn how to work with people from different backgrounds to achieve common goals

Question 4

how does the education system help to create social solidarity?

Answer 4

by transmitting society’s culture
- argues the teaching of a country’s history instill in children a sense of shared heritage + commitment to wider social group

Question 5

Durkheim argues school acts as?

Answer 5

‘society in minature’ preparing us for life in wider society

Question 6

mechanical vs organic solidarity: what is mechanical solidarity?

Answer 6

in pre-industrial society, the family could carry out socialisation as individuals had little to no contact with people in other parts of the country
-this is mechanical solidarity

Question 7

in a more complex, large-scale sociey what is it based on?

Answer 7

organic solidarity rather than mechanical solidarity

Question 8

in a more complex, large-scale society(one based on organic solidarity rather than mechanical solidarity) it is necessary to?

Answer 8

learn the shared values of broader society as individuals have to perform specific economic roles based on division of labour

Question 9

according to durkheim main fuction of school is to?

Answer 9

transmit shared values of society= important to build social solidarity
-argues both hidden + formal curriculum build social solidarity + teach shared values
-maintaining stability
-as everyone shares the same values + feel part of a society, encourages them to conform + be responsible

Question 10

preparing students for work- Durkheim describes school as

Answer 10

‘society in miniature’
-Durkheim argues we love in a ‘complex industrial society’- the range of goods produced through individuals specialising in different skills + working together

Question 11

primary vs secondary socialisation

Answer 11

• family passes on particular norms and values(particularistic standards), secondary socialisation passes on universal norms + values that are shared by boarder society(universalistic standards)
  -prevent anomie

Question 12

education performs secondary socialisation through:

Answer 12

-instilling social solidarity
-teaching social rules and how to abide by them (follow set of rules, limits deviance children learn about punishment , with that learn self-discipline)
-teaching specialist skills

Question 13

evaluations
marxism- idea of shared values

Answer 13

-marxists disagree arguing education system passes on the ideas + values of the dominant class-the dominant ideology rather than shared values

Question 14

evaluations
feminists

Answer 14

would be critical argue education system reinforces patriarchal ideology

Question 15

evaluations
diverse society

Answer 15

Durkheim ignores that in today’s diverse society, subjects like history could make individuals feel isolated by teaching ethnocentric curriculm