Theories: Functionalism And Education

Question 1

Socialisation

Answer 1

Sociologists such as Emile Durkheim see schools as secondary agents of socialisation
They transmit and reproduce shared cultural values such as: achievement, competition, individualism etc
Known as social reproduction and helps to ensure value consensus and social order

Question 2

Social solidarity

Answer 2

Durkheim believed that education brings about social interaction and solidarity and subjects like history link education to society and affirm to them a sense of belonging to society

Question 3

Hidden Curriculum

Answer 3

Refers to the informal learning processes that occur in schools. It is a ‘side effect’ that serves to transmit messages to students
Jackson descruces it as the ‘unpublicised features of school life’ in which students learn to accept the distribution of power in school and society

Question 4

School as a social bridge

Answer 4

Talcott parsons argued that the main function of education was to act as a social bridge between the family and wider society in which people are judged purely on merit.

Question 5

Meritocracy

Answer 5

A society or institution that practices equality of opportunity and in which are rewarded solely on the basis of merit.
Everyone has a chance of success and it is the most able who succeed through their own efforts.

Question 6

Learning specialist skills for work

Answer 6

Durkheim noted that an advanced industrial economy required a massive and complex division of labour. At school, individuals learn the diverse skills necessary for this to take place.

Question 7

Teaching us core values

Answer 7

Talcott parsons - education acts as the ‘focal socialising ageny’, plays the central role in the process of secondary socialisation.
In the family , children are judged according to particularistic standards( apply onto that child)
In the school children are judged according to the same universalistic standards

Question 8

Role allocation

Answer 8

Davis and Moore believe that education sifts and sorts students using exams and qualifications that allocates them to a future job.
The most functionally important jobs are allocated to those who display the most ability, effort and flexibility.
Ensures a more efficient economy

Question 9

Positive evaluations

Answer 9

• school performs positive functions for most pupils
• role allocation = those with degrees earn 85% more than those without degrees
• education is more ‘work focused’ today increasing amounts of vocational courses.

Question 10

Negative evaluations

Answer 10

• Marxists argue that the education system is not meritocratic , e.g private schools benefit the wealthy
• functionalism ignores the negative sides of school, e.g bullying
• postmodernists argue that ‘teaching to the test’ kills creativity
• functionalism reflects the views of the powerful , the education system tends to work for them