Theories on the role of education

Question 1

Whats the New Right theory on the role of education?

Answer 1

Conservative ideas on how to run schools- Edu system should meet needs of individual child. -Improve reading skills. -Open up the supply of education, churches, voluntary bodies, charities to run schools to improve standards.- Discipline and order one paramount.

Similarities with functionalism- Some individuals are naturally more talented & should get best jobs. -Edu system should be more meritocratic and prepare students for the world of work.- Edu is main agency of secondary socialisation as it transmits shared values to younger gen.

Question 2

What are the NR criticisms of education system?

Answer 2

• Edu system is failing to fulfill its purpose-prepare students for the world of work and carry out secondary socialisation- as its run by state.
• State takes the ‘one size fits all’ approach, ignores needs of local consumers of schools.
• Edu system is inefficient- wastes resources, maintains low standards of edu, creates a labour force that isnt prepared for the world of work. These damage the economy.

Question 3

What are the NR ideas on how the education system should be run?

Answer 3

• The solution to the failings of the education system is the marketisation of education.
• CHUBB AND MOE say that opening the edu system to market forces will create competition between schools and give choice to consumers.
• Each family should be given vouchers with which they would pay for their childrens edu. This would be the schools only source of income and would make schools responsive to parents wishes.
• For schools to get more money, they would need to attract the most students. For this they need excellent results-this would increase competition and raise standards.

Question 4

What is the role of the state according to the NR?

Answer 4

• State should have 2 main roles in edu. Firstly,provide a framework within which schools compete such as publication of exam results and ofsted inspections.
• Then the state should ensure that schools transmit shared values by imposing National curriculum on all schools, this will integrate students into the same set of values, e.g. history should emphasize britain and daily acts of christian worship.

Question 5

What are the criticisms of the New Right view?

Answer 5

• Competition and parental choice benefits only the m/c who use cultural and economic capital to get into the best schools.
• Its not the state control of education that leads to low educational standards, it is social inequality.
• Marxists argue that edu passes on the ruling class ideology, not shared values.

Question 6

Whats the functionalist theory on the role of education?

Answer 6

• Edu maintains social solidarity through its functions.
• Have a positive view of education. They argue it performs several functions through which it helps maintain SS benefiting individuals and society.
• Secondary socialization, respect for authority , a sense of belonging and preparation for the world of work.

Question 7

F- What are Durkheims views?

Answer 7

Edu has 2 functions:

1: to promote SS– social cohesion, sharing norms and values, a feeling of belonging; creates SS by transmitting societys cultures to the next gen; schools are ‘societys in miniature’ preparing children for life in the wider world, we learn to cooperate and follow instructions.
2: pass on specialist skills–education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills needed by employers due to the complex division of labour.

Question 8

What are the criticisms of Durkheims views?

Answer 8

Marxist- the education system does not transmit societys shared values rather it transmits the ruling class ideology.

Question 9

F- What are Parsons views?

Answer 9

Edu has 2 functions.

1: Bridge between the family and wider society–In family individuals are judged by particular standards and hold ascribed status; in wider society status is achieved, we’re judged on universalistic standards because society is meritocratic, rewards are based on efforts and ability; through education children get used to being judged on meritocracy which prepares them for wider society.
2: Secondary socialization– education is the main socialising agency after family, it passes on societys norms and values to younger gen.

Question 10

What are the criticisms of Parsons views?

Answer 10

• Edu system is not meritocratic, there is evidence that factors such as class, ethnicity and gender can affect achievement.
• Students dont always passively accept values taught by schools.

Question 11

F- What are the views of Davies and Moore?

Answer 11

Role allocation

• the most important roles in society should be fulfilled by the most talented people.
• those fulfilling the most important roles should be highly rewarded.
• this will create competition for the jobs and ensure they go to the best people.
• the function of education is to sift and sort individuals to their future roles.
• through edu individuals show the level of their ability as the most able get the highest qualifications.

Question 12

What are the criticisms of Davies and Moores views?

Answer 12

-The New Right claim that state education fails to prepare students for work because there is too much interference from the government.

Question 13

What is the Marxist theory on education?

Answer 13

• Edu system is a part of the superstructure and exists soley to serve the needs of capitalism and protect ruling class power.
• It does so by creating ruling class ideology in order to maintain false class consciousness.

Question 14

M-What is Althussers view?

Answer 14

-Edu system serves the interests of the ruling class, this is because it is a part of the ideological state apparatus -a part of the superstructure which controls peoples ideas through the family, education, religion and media.
The edu system protects ruling class by:
1--reproducing class inequality, by failing each successive gen of w/c so they cant better themselves and the poor stay poor and the rich get richer.
2--legitimising class inequality, by producing ideologies that disguise the truth so the w/c think the system is just and fair.

Question 15

What are the criticisms of Althussers view?

Answer 15

• He over emphasises the influence of class and ignores other factors which lead to social inequality in education such as gender, ethnicity and sexuality.
• Deterministic- assumes students passively follow the ruling class ideology created by the edu system when , in fact, students have free will and can see through the ideology.

Question 16

M-What are the views of Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 16

• Role of education is to produce an obedient workforce that will accept inequality as inevitable.
  1) reproduction of class inequality by:
  a) the correspondence principle- close links between school and work, schools mirror workplace. Both are hierarchical , both students and workers are alienated from work due to lack of control, separation of knowledge; therefore edu prepares students for fordism- a system of work which includes boring, repetitive and alienating work such as assembly line factory work; also edu system rewards submissive punctual and compliant students.
  b) the hidden curriculum- things students learn through everyday life at school, to obey authority, be punctual etc.
  2) legitimization of class inequality- producing ideas which justify inequality. Edu is a myth making machine. Myth of meritocracy- doesnt exist. Those who succeed do so because of their m/c background- makes it look like w/c are poor as they are not smart enough to do well. Blame is placed on individual not capitalism- preventing w/c from rebelling.

Question 17

What are the criticisms of B & G?

Answer 17

• Deterministic, they assume that students passively accept ruling class ideology.
• Not all subjects indoctrinate students.
• Postmodernists argue that todays post-fordist economy needs skilled, adaptable workforce.
• Feminists say Marxists ignore other social inequalities reinforced by the education system.