The Role And Function Of Education

Question 1

Describe functionalism:socialisation…

Answer 1

The function of education is to socialise pupils into the key cultural values of society eg. meritocracy and democracy.

Question 2

Functionalism:Socialisation:Durkheim

Answer 2

‘Basic needs of society’

Society creates individualistic members which leads to little social solidarity and anomie

Question 3

Parsons

Answer 3

Functionalism:socialisation

Forms a bridge between family and wider society, adopting a meritocratic view and producing a value concencus.

Question 4

State 2 criticisms of the functionalist:socialisation viewpoint…

Answer 4

Only applicable in societies where there is a dominant shared culture. Assumes the ES succeeds but not all students conform to promoted values.

Question 5

Functionalism:skills provision:Durkheim

Answer 5

Teaches skills needed, general and specific

Question 6

What theory does functionalism:skills provision tie in with?

Answer 6

Human capital theory

Question 7

Functionalism:Skills provision:Criticisms Pisa 2012

Answer 7

Britain lacks the ability to train workers needed for globalisation. 26/65 for maths at 15, 23 for reading and 20 for science.

Question 8

Give one criticism of functionalism:skills provision

Answer 8

Does the ES teach the right skills needed for a successful economy?

Question 9

Davis and Moore 1945

Answer 9

Functionalism:Role Allocation

Sorts students into appropriate jobs. High lay jobs are due to a meritocratic society, the exam system encourages hard work and competition.

Question 10

State two criticisms of Davis and Moore 1945…

Answer 10

Functionalism:Role Allocation

Ignores social divisions eg class, gender and ethnicity that may effect educational attainment and access to high quality education (private/tutors). It is not meritocratic.

Question 11

Althusser 1971

Answer 11

Marxism

Reproduction and legitimisation of class inequalities through the myth of meritocracy.
Persuades jobs reflect ability not class.
Transmission of common values (ISA) to maintain, reproduce and legitimise generation by generation. 
Ruling class ideology exerted, disguised as common values.

Question 12

Give one criticism of Althusser 1971…

Answer 12

Emphasises class inequalities not gender or ethnicity.

Question 13

Bowles and Gintis 1976

Answer 13

Correspondence Theory

Education is controlled by capitalists and serves their interests, education corresponds to employment hence the hidden curriculum provides a doctile workforce and hard working workforce.

Question 14

Name the components of Correspondence Principle…

Answer 14

Hierarchy
Motivated by external rewards
Fragmented
High grades = High pay

Question 15

Brown 1977

Answer 15

Criticism of Bowles and Gintis 1976

Work requires teamwork not authority obedience.

Question 16

Reynolds 1984

Answer 16

Criticism of Bowles and Gintis 1976

Education encourages critical thinking

Question 17

Neomarxism - Willis 1976 USA

Answer 17

The hidden curriculum is not always accepted. 12 W/C lads, counter school culture, opposed values of education system and choose to fail to become manual labourers. The ES still ruins those who are not obedient, th ES does not produce ideal workers.

Question 18

Criticise Willis…

Answer 18

Neomarxism

1976 USA not applicable to modern day UK

Question 19

New Right/Neoliberals

Answer 19

Favour free market and marketisation. Competition drives motivation and success. The ES is important for a successful economy but it can be a drain on resources. Parentocracy.

Question 20

Chubb and Moe 1988

Answer 20

Neoliberalism

State education fails disadvantaged pupils. No competition in state schools so standards are low.

Question 21

Gerwitz 1995

Answer 21

Neoliberalism Criticism

Ignores wider social inequalities and puts all the blame on schools. Schools do not transmit common values but R/C values. Contradictory, parentocracy but strict curriculum. Private puts profit over education. Greater choice always benefits M/C.

Question 22

Social Democracy

Answer 22

Greater equality from education. Schools give extra help to disadvantaged. education promotes economic growth and equality in a meritocratic society but ES is not meritocratic, government had to intervene.

Question 23

Wolf 2002

Answer 23

Criticises social democracy

Will spending lead to automatic economic growth? Switzerland!

Question 24

Neoliberals criticise social democrats because….

Answer 24

Greater equality means standards are undermined eg mixed pace classes.

Question 25

Name the 3 broad topics in the functionalist viewpoint…

Answer 25

Socialisation, skills provision and role allocation.