Topic 10 - Functionalism + meritocracy Flashcards
Functionalism + education?
Functionalism views education as a form of socialization that helps build social cohesion and links individuals to their culture, such as the teaching of Welsh in Wales. Durkheim believed education’s main role is socialization. However, Gorad criticized this, arguing that modern schools focus too much on individual exam results and competition, neglecting social solidarity. The emphasis on league tables encourages an individualistic, competitive approach.
Functionalist theories of education?
Functionalists view education as a meritocracy, where individuals are educated based on their ability and talent. They argue that inequality in education is not a problem, as competition ensures the most talented rise to top positions, benefiting society. Success is attributed to talent and hard work, while failure is seen as a result of lack of effort or ability.
Education acts as a bridge between the home + society
Parsons argued that education serves as a bridge between family life (where particularistic values are taught) and society (which operates on universalistic values). Schools teach values like achievement, where status is earned through hard work and talent. However, this can clash with family values, and not all students conform to school expectations. Sociologists like Mac and Ghaill, Jackson, Connolly, and Francis suggest that some boys and girls adopt anti-learning, “laddish” attitudes in response to the pressure of exams. In school, social success is often seen as separate from academic success, with stereotypes linking academic talent to social awkwardness.
Education is meritocratic
Davies and Moore (1967) argued that the education system allocates people to appropriate jobs, with higher-paying, more responsible roles requiring more training and commitment. The system sorts children by talent, creating inequalities in educational outcomes. Those with the best results enter higher-status occupations. However, the link between academic qualifications and earnings is inconsistent. For example, girls outperform boys in school but often earn less by age 30 due to the gender pay gap. This suggests that ability is not easily measurable, and not all children have equal opportunities to develop their talents.
Evaluating functionalism?
Functionalism has two main weaknesses:
It overly accepts inequality, suggesting it is necessary, but fails to explain why certain social groups, like ethnic minorities and the working class, underachieve. Functionalists attribute this to a lack of talent or effort.
While functionalists claim education transmits shared norms and values, Marxists and feminists argue that the values passed on reflect the interests of the dominant class or patriarchy, not society as a whole, particularly in a diverse society with many cultures and subcultures.
