the role of education - functionalism Flashcards
what is functionalism?
the view that society is a system of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture or value consensus.
name two functionalists
Emile Durkheim
Talcott Parsons
what two functions of education does Durkheim promote?
social solidarity
specialist skills
what is social solidarity?
it emphasizes the interdependence between individuals in a society, which allows individuals to feel that they can enhance the lives of others
(social norm and values)
what is Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity?
- its the cohesion between individuals in a society that ensures social order and stability
- without social solidarity, social life and co-operation would be impossible as each individual would pursue their own selfish desires
what is meritocracy?
a social system in which individuals are rewarded through social position or other goods based on their demonstrated talent, intelligence and skills (rather than because of their wealth).
in a meritocracy everyone is given an equal opportunity and everyone achieve rewards through their own effort and ability.
what does Durkheim say about specialist skills?
that education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills that they need to play their part in the social division of labour.
what is Parsons’ theory of meritocracy?
- Parsons sees school as a bridge between family and and wider society - this bridge is needed because family and society operate on different principles, so children need to learn a new way of living if they are to cope.
- within the family the child is judged by particularistic standards.
- Parsons sees school as preparing us to move from the family to wider society as school and society are both based on meritocratic principles.
how does the education system apply the idea of meritocracy?
- both school and the wider society judge us all by the same universalistic and impersonal standards e.g - in society the same laws apply to everyone and similarly in school each pupil is judged against the same standards.
- in both, a persons status is largely achieved and not ascribed.
how does education create social solidarity?
- by transmitting society’s shared beliefs and values from one generation to the next.
- schools are a society in miniature, preparing us for life in wider society.
- e.g cooperating with people who are neither family nor friends, or following a set of impersonal and universal rules.
what is the importance of specialist skills in education?
education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills that they need to play a part in the social division of labour - education is needed to enable people to work.
what is the function of education according to Parsons?
to transfer meritocratic principles.
why is meritocracy in education important to society?
education acts as a bridge between family and wider society - schools prepares us to move from the family to wider society because both school and wider society have meritocratic principles.
what is the function of education according to Davis and Moore?
that education functions as a device for selection and role allocation.
why is role allocation in education important for society?
schools select and allocate pupils for their future work roles - this encourages everyone to compete for them and society can then select the most talented individuals to fill these positions.
what are the criticisms for functionalism?
- the education system doesn’t teach specialist skills adequately failing young people for the world of work.
- meritocracy is a myth and equal opportunities don’t exist.
- feminists argue that education in a patriarchal society only transmits male values.
- marxists argue that education in a capitalist society only transmits the ideology of the minority.
what is value consensus?
where all schools should be transmitting the same shared values
(education reform act 1988)
why would social life and cooperation be impossible without social solidarity?
because everyone would pursue their own selfish desires.
why is the bridge between family and society needed?
because family and society operate on different principles.
what type of values are do children operate on at home that is different to school?
at home they operate on particularistic values whereas at school they operate on meritocratic and universalistic values - this helps prepare them for wider society.
how does education play a key part in role allocation?
it acts as a proving ground for ability and ‘sifts and sorts’ us according to our ability.
what are Durkheim’s critics of the education system?
he argues that specialist skills are not taught adequately and that achievement is greatly influenced by class background rather than ability.
what is privatisation?
the process where institutions are transferred from being owned by the state to being owned by private companies.
