The Role and Function of Education (2) Flashcards
Up to what age is the education compulsory in the UK?
18
What is a sixth form college?
Further education.
What is the National Curriculum? When was it introduced?
Board scheme of work set by the government that schools have to follow.
It was introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988 by Kenneth Baker.
What does co-educational mean?
Both genders together in one school.
What do we mean when we talk about “special educational needs”?
Children that have a condition that effects them learning - physical and/or mental.
What do we mean by “educational achievement”?
The extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals.
How might gender affect a child’s experience of education?
Labelling - boys labelled as lazy and don’t want to learn so the teachers don’t teach them as much as they do the girls.
What are the different theoretical perspectives on the role and function of education?
Functionalism - consensus. New Right - political. Marxism - conflict. Feminism - conflict. Interactionism - micro. Postmodernism - choice.
What are the explanations of the different theoretical perspectives?
Functionalism: consensus; schools function for the needs of society and promote social order.
New Right: political; schools are important for meritocracy and promoting traditional values.
Marxism: conflict; schools reproduce social class inequalities and support capitalism.
Feminism: conflict; schools reproduce gender inequalities and support patriarchy.
Interactionism: micro; schools and teachers label pupils and produce self-fulfilling prophecies and pupil subcultures; classroom interactions is observed in detail.
Postmodernism: choice; schools and learning are ‘customised’ to meet the diverse needs of parents and pupils; ‘one-size fits all education’ is outdated.
How do functionalist see society?
Functionalists see society as integrated as a whole. To functionalists every institution in society performs a positive function and they assume that this helps society to run smoothly.
What is the metaphor often used to describe functionalism?
Functionalists see society built up and working like a human body, made up of interrelated parts which function for, or contribute to, the maintenance of society as a whole.
Who was the founding father of functionalism?
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917).
What do functionalists agree on?
Norms and values (value consensus).
What are functionalists views?
Macro Structural Consensus Durkheim: social solidarity and skills Parsons: Meritocracy Davis and Moore: Role allocation
What are the key functionalists points?
- Functionalism is a structural consensus theory.
- The founding father was Emile Durkheim.
- He compared society to a living things to explain who society worked.
- This he called the organic analogy.
- Every system in society has a positive function.
- Every system is essential to the whole (indispensable).
- Every system is interdependent (rely on each other).
- Any system without a function will eventually disappear as it is no use.
What were the ideas of Durkheim?
‘Living individuals to society’ (school is a mini society).
School teaches ‘social rules’ that apply to all (norms/values and expectations).
In school people learn to ‘feel’ part of a larger group (social integration).
People learn specialist work skills (division of labour) in school.
How is school like society?
SCHOOL:
Head teacher/pupil hierarchy
Rules and regulations
Punishment for not doing what you are told
Put in a class with people beyond your family who you are expected to get along with
Uniform
Rewards for hard work eg exam results, rewards
Competition is encouraged
WORK/SOCIETY;
Boss/employee
Employment rules and police/laws
Punishment for not doing what you are told
Have to get on with people you don’t necessarily know/like
Uniform
Rewards for hard work, eg bonus/payrise/promotion
Competition is encouraged
How did Talcott Parson describe school?
As a bridge - education is a bridge that helps children see how to survive in the world. Before education the family is what help guide them but it is not very successful because they try and shelter them from the outside world.
What is meant by the term Social Solidarity?
Education teaches us to understand that we are part of a society, otherwise society wouldn’t work. Education transmits society’s culture and socialises us into a value consensus.
What is meant by the term Specialist Skills?
Durkheim also believed that education teaches you skills that your parents can’t. Some of these skills are necessary for specific jobs (an advanced division of labour) and parents do not have the specialist knowledge.
How did Durkheim see education?
Durkheim saw schools as society in miniature in which individuals learn to interact with others and follow a fixed set of rules. This provides preparation for later life when individuals will have to get on with others and comply with the rules of society,
What are the 3 main functions Parsons believed education had?
- It is a bridge between the family and wider society.
- It socialises children into the basic values of society.
- It selects people for their future roles in society.
What is Ascribed Status?
A trait or characteristic people possess as a result of the circumstances of birth. E.g. knowledge, caring, generous, lazy, etc.
What is Achieved Status?
A status that we either earn or choose and that is not subject to where or whom we where born. E.g. hardworking, honest, etc.