the role of education Flashcards
functionalism
a consensus(general agreement) approach
neoliberalism and new right.
a conservative, free market approach
marxsim
a class conflict approach
two main functions of education
creating social solidarity and teaching specialist skills
Durkheim (functionalist)
argue that society needs a sense of solidarity. He argues that without social solidarity cooperation would be impossible without it.
social solidarity
individual members must feel themselves to be part of community
how did the educational system create social solidarity
transmitting society’s culture- its shared beliefs and values from one generation to the next
what does school act as
“society in miniature”-preparing us for life in wider society
parsons (functionalist)
parsons draws on many of Durkheim’s ideas. Parsons sees school as “the focal learning agency” in modern society.
the focal learning agency
bridge between the family and wider society
why is the bridge between family and wider society needed
family and society operate on different principles, so children need to learn a way of living if they cope with the wider world
within the family how is the child judged
the child is judged by pluralistic standards; that is, rules that apply only to that particular child.
what is ascribed
fixed at birth for example, an elder son and a younger daughter may be given different rights or duties because of differences in age and gender.
Davis and Moore 1945 (functionalist)
see education as a device for selection and role allocation. they focus on the relationship between education and social inequality. they argue that inequality is necessary to ensure the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people.
Evolution of functionalist perspective
- the education system doesn’t teach specialist skills adequately, as Durkheim claims.
- functionalists see education as a process that instils the shared values of society as a whole, but Marxists argue that education in capitalist society only transmits the ideology of a minority.
what does education act as?
a sieve which shifts and sorts jobs best suited to their ability.
society in miniature
school acts in this way to prepare us for the future
pluralistic standards
rules that apply to that one child it is ascribed- fixed
universalistic standards
not compared to everyone else or judged by a clear measure of achievement.
meritocracy
that individuals should achieve their status in life through their own efforts and abilities, rather than it being ascribed at birth by their class background
what do new right and neoliberals argue
argue that the state should not provide services such as education and health . they believe in competition. their central belief is that the state cannot meet peoples needs so there should be a new market.
new right and functionalism similarities
Both believe some people are more naturally talented
favour the education system running on meritocratic principles
believe the education system should be competition
new right and functionalism differences
don’t believe the current education system is achieving these goals this is because is still run by the state
state systems take “one size fits all” approach, imposing uniformity and disregarding local needs
schools need to marketized
why do Chubb and Moe (1990) argue that state schools have failed
- failed the needs of disadvantaged groups
- does not produce skills needed for the economy
- private schools perform better because they are funded by parents and therefore answerable
based on Chubb and Moe’s findings of why state schools have failed they suggest that
call for a “market system” which would allow consumer to meet their own needs.
propose a system where each consumer is given a “voucher” to spend on education.
drive up competition between schools
A03 new right
Completion only benefits middle class who use their cultural capital Real cause of low standards is social inequality not schools
Marxist
Society and education are based on class division and capital exploitation
What are the two class system described in capitalism
The capitalist class and the working class
The capitalist class
“Bourgeoise” The minority class Employees who own means if business eg land make profits by exploiting labour or working class
The working class
Forced to sell labour power to the capitalist
Own no means of production
Poorly paid
Work in jobs which are underpaid and unsatisfying
Althusser (1971)
The state consists of two elements or “apparatus”, both of which serve to keep the bourgeoisie in power:
The repressive state apparatus
The ideological state apparatus
The repressive state apparatuses(RSA)
Force and threats e.g police, courts,army
The ideological state apparatuses (ISA)
Controlling peoples ideals e.g religion, media education
Why is education ideological state apparatus
Reproduces class inequality, fails working class pupils from generation to generation
Legitimates ( justifies) class inequalities disguises their true cause e.g persuades people to accept their portion
Bowles and Gintis
They argue that capitalist requires a workforce with certain attitudes-willing to accept hard work, low pay and orders from above
What Bowles and Gintis believe is the role of the education system
To reproduce an obedient workforce that will accept inequality as inevitable
Who do Bowles and Gintis believe schools reward
The schools reward precisely the kind of personality traits that make a submissive,compliant worker
What does Bowles and Gintis believe education has a close parallels with
Work in capitalist society. Education mirrors the work place
hidden curriculum
all the “lessons” that are learnt in school without being directly taught
Willis
studied the counter-school culture of “the lads” as they make the transition from school to work.
how many boys did Willis use for his study
12 working class boys
AO3 Marxist approaches
postmodernist argue that schools now produce diversity, not inequality.
pupils have free will and can reject school ideology
sees class as the most important factor, ignores others e.g. ethnicity
Ofsted league tables create a sense of competition
what is the educational policy
the plans and strategies for education introduced by the government, most policies are in response to an issue e.g. equal opportunities, school selection.
education policy before 1988
no state schools
education was only available to the rich
few charity schools for the poor
state schools spent no money on education.
what was it like during the late 19th century
industrialisation increased the need for education workers.
state become more involved in education
school compulsory from 5-13
mc given an academic curriculum.
tripartite system
education began to be influenced by the idea of meritocracy. children were to be selected and allocated to one of the three types of secondary school , supposedly by the (11+) exam.
how were children allocated
by attitudes and attitudes and abilities
why did the tripartite system and 11+ produce class inequality
by channelling, the two social classes into different schools that offered unequal opportunities.
the comprehensive school system
aim to overcome the class divide of the tripartite system and make education meritocratic
what happened to 11+
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