Theories Of Education Flashcards
Which theorist identifies role allocation as a function of education
Functionalists Davis and More
Describe Davis and More’s theory of role allocation
Education system ‘sifts and sorts’ pupils (through setting and streaming) into future job roles to ensure the highest ability / hardest working students get the most important jobs
This means that inequality is necessary for a meritocratic society
Evaluate David and More’s theory of education (2 points)
- Marxist > myth of meritocracy > highest achieving are not necessarily the highest ability/ hardest working due to class inequality
- highest rewarding jobs are not necessarily the most important eg. Footballers
Which sociologist identified social solidarity / cohesion as a function of education
Functionalist Durkheim
Explain Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity as a function of education
- education teaches children shared norms, value and culture of their society, socialising them into a value consensus.
- done through the transmutation of British values in the curriculum ( history instills a shared heritage, citizenship etc. ) creating social cohesion in society
Evaluate Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity as a function of education
- Marxists : only transmits ruling class ideology
Which sociologist suggests education acts as a ‘focal socialising agency’ which instills universalistic standards
Functionalist Parsons
Explain Parson’s idea that the purpose of education is secondary socialisation
- bridges the gap between the family and wider society > teaches universalistic standards (rather than the particularistic thought in the family).
- teaches meritocracy as status must be achieved in society > schools act as ‘society in miniature’ in preparation
What sociologist suggested the purpose of education is to teach specialist skills
Functionalist Durkheim
Explain the idea that the role of education is to teach specialist skills
Durkheim - specialist skills taught in schools to prepare a future workforce with the skills necessary to ensure the maintenance of economic stability in the future
Blay & Duncan > modern economy depends on human capital ( workers skills)
Evaluate the views of Durkheim and Blay & Duncan that the function of education is to provide specialist skills
New right > argues state education fails to prepare young people adequately for work due to the lack of competition within schools
Which sociologist suggests the role of education is to maintain capitalist control through ideological state apparatus
Marxist Althusser
Explain Althusser’s theory of the role of education
- education acts as part of the bourgeoise’s ideological state apparatus that maintains capitalism by controlling the ideas values and beliefs of w/c children
- socialises children into believing that inequality is inevitable through the myth of meritocracy, creating a false class consciousness in w/c children
Evaluate Althusser’s theory of the role of education
Neo Marxist : Willis > done a study into w /c school boys and going they do not passively accept capitalist indoctrination taught in schools > develop anti school subcultures reject capitalist control
Which sociologists suggested the correspondence principle
Marxist Bowles & Gintis
Explain Bowles and Gintis’ correspondence principle + findings from their study to support
-The education system reflects working in a capitalist society
- indoctrinates children into a obedient, hardworking workforce needed to maintain class disparity through a false class consciousness
- values are taught through the hidden curriculum eg. ( acceptance of hierarchy, competition)
Describe the findings of Bowles & Gintis’ study (correspondence principle)
Study into 237 American high schools found that personality traits that lead to passive, compliant workers are rewarded
Evaluate the correspondence principle
- B&G’s study lacks ecological validity > in America in 1988 cannot generalise to a modern day British society
- functionalist > agree that school can be seen as ‘society in miniature’
Describe Bowles and Gintis’ myth of meritocracy
The education system justifies the privileges of the m/c through meritocracy, making it seem like a result of hard work rather than ascribed privileges, to avoid w/c rebellion against the unfair inequality they face by instilling a false class consciousness in w/c students from a young age
What do new right sociologists think the function of the education system should be
- socialise ppl into shared values
- based on competition + meritocracy
What do new right theorist think wrong with the education system
Run by the state > lacks competition, introduction of catchment area in 1988 means hard work is no longer necessary
How do new right sociologists suggest the state should improve education
- impose framework which ensures schools have to compete
- ensure schools transmit a shared culture through the emphasis of British values in the curriculum
Which sociologists suggest marketisation should be put in place to improve the education system
New right theorists Brown and Lauder
Explain how new right sociologists think marketisation would improve education
- schools should be run like businesses in order to encourage competition and improve standards and ensure children have skills and knowledge needed to ensure future economic success and therefore global success
- done by publicly published assessment results and direct ranking of schools > money given to successful schools, giving failing schools incentive to improve
What do postmodernists believe about modern society that means education is changing
- due to globalisation we live in a fragmented society, where unifying elements ( shared norms and values) have broken down > we need diversity in education to meet the unpredictable needs of the future workplace
How do postmodernist believe education is becoming more diverse to meet the needs of ‘post fordist society’
- increase in different types of schools
- Students + parents have more individual choice
- more ‘hyperreal’ > use of technology
- focus on individual needs, using different teaching styles
- becoming more flexible ( learning from home)
What sociologists suggested human capital is developed in vocational education
Postmodernist - Schultz
Explain what Schultz suggests about vocational courses
Produce more skilled, flexible workforce that are better at meeting the needs of modern employers
Helps students promenade for the wide range of jobs available due to globalisation
Which sociologists suggested implementing a voucher system to improve education
New right theorists Chubb and Moe
Explain why Chubb and Moe suggested a voucher system to improve education
- education should no longer be run by the state as the current system fails to create equal opportunity for disadvantaged groups as
- research found students from low income backgrounds consistently done 5% better when put in private education
Explain the ‘voucher system’
- education would no longer be provided by the state but instead the state would provide families with vouchers to spend on fees to send their children to private schools
- this would encourage competition, raising standards and create equal opportunity in education
Evaluate the voucher system
Ball et al - myth of Parentocracy
- doesn’t actually remove inequality in education > created social class inequality as middle class parents have greater educational and social capital which they can use to benefit their children’s education
What do new right theorists believe about national identities in schools
- similar to functionalist > the state should ensure that schools transmit a shared culture through the teaching of British values in the national curriculum
