the fundamentalist views on education

Question 1

What do functionalists believe about society?

Answer 1

Organic analogy - system of interdependent parts that are held together by a value consensus/shared norms and have to work together in order to maintain society.

Question 2

Which parts of society help maintain it?

Answer 2

Education, religion the family

Question 3

What does Durkheim believe about the role of education in maintaining society?

Answer 3

Creating social solidarity and teaching specialist skills

Question 4

Define social solidarity

Answer 4

Society’s members feeling as if they belong to a community

Question 5

How does education create a sense of social solidarity?

Answer 5

By transmitting society’s culture (shared norms and values) throughout multiple generations; i.e. the teaching of a country’s history

Question 6

How is education ‘society in miniature’?

Answer 6

Prepares students for life in wider society through interacting with others outside of their family

Question 7

Why does education teach specialist skills?

Answer 7

So that students know how to play their part in the social division of labour.

Question 8

What are Talcott Parson’s (1961) views on education?

Answer 8

Believes it is the ‘focal socialising agency’ as it teaches children the principles of wider society.

Question 9

What is the difference between the family and society?

Answer 9

Family: ascribed status and particularistic standards vs Society: achieved status and universal standards

Question 10

Define meritocracy

Answer 10

Everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve and that rewards are based on ability and effort.

Question 11

Describe Davis and Moore’s (1945) view of education

Answer 11

Believe that education sifts and sorts those who are of the highest and lowest ability

Question 12

Do Davis and Moore believe that social inequality is good? Why?

Answer 12

Yes and because it ensures that the most important roles in society are filled by those who are the most able.

Question 13

Critiques of the functionalist perspective

Answer 13

Wrong (1961) - Over socialised view of society - not every pupil will passively follow the rules

Tumin (1953) - Davis and Moore provide a circular argument - How do we know a job is important - it is highly rewarded and vice versa.

Marxists - education in the capitalist system legitimises the rule of the ruling class; myth of meritocracy (Bowles and Gintis)