theories for education

Question 1

what is the tripartite system

Answer 1

three different schools
- grammar
- modern
- technical

Question 2

what do sociologists think of the comprehensive school system

Answer 2

functionalists like it as it is more meritocratic and encourages social integration
marxists sat ther it reinforces capitalism and reproduces class inequality

Question 3

parentocracy factors

Answer 3

• reduces direct state control over education system
• increases competition between schools and parental choice between schools

Question 4

parentocracy is made by:

Answer 4

• publication of league tables
• business sponsorship of schools
• open enrollment
• specialist schools
• schools having to compete to attract students

Question 5

creme skimming

Answer 5

better schools have better choice recruiting mainly middle class

Question 6

gerwirtz

Answer 6

benefits the middle class
three types of parents
- privileged skilled choosers
- disconnected local choosers - working class not very ambitious tend to go for the safest option
- semi skilled choosers - working class, more ambitious and try to get into better schools

Question 7

ball parentocracy

Answer 7

myth of parentocracy: not all parents have the same freedom to choose school middle class have better chance of getting good schools

Question 8

new labour: parentocracy

Answer 8

myth of parentocracy
- designating deprived areas as education act zones and providing them with resources
- aim higher program to raise aspiration of groups who are infer represented in education
- education maintenance allowances, payments to students from low income back grounds to stay on after 16
- increase funding for state education

Question 9

ethnicity policies

Answer 9

• policies aimed at raising the achievements of children from minority ethnic back ground have gone through several phases
• assimilation - policies in the 60s and 80s focused on the need of pupils from ethnic groups to assimilate into mainstream British culture as a way of raising their achievements
• multicultural education - valuing all cultures in the school curriculum raising minorities self esteem and achievement (80s & 90s) the problem was not the curriculum but racism in general
• social inclusion in late 90s policies included: detailed minority of exam results by ethnicity, amending the race relations act, english as an additional language program

Question 10

durkheim functions of school

Answer 10

• social solidarity - individual members must feel themselves a part of a single boddy or community eduation does this by acting as amini society preparing people for wider life
• specialist skill - teaches skills needed for work

Question 11

parsons meritocracy

Answer 11

sees schools as the bridge between family and wider society
- schools judge us on the same univeristic standards (same rules apply to everyone)
- status is achieved not ascribed