Functionalists views on education Flashcards
Who are 3 key functionalists in the education topic?
Durkheim, Parsons and Davis & Moore
What is formal education?
The official national curriculum, the subjects studied in lesson.
What is informal education>
Takes place outside of subjects as apart of general school life which helps prepare child for wider society.
What did Durkheim believe the main function of the education system is?
Transmission of societies norms and values from one generation to the next.
What is social solidarity?
The feeling of belonging to something bigger than you alone.
Why does Durkheim say school is like society in miniature?
-Where we learn rules
-Teaches how to behave and interact
-Taught complex specialist skills for later in life
How may a Marxist criticise Durkheim?
Ruling class only transmit THEIR norms and values: not inclusive of other social classes.
What may happen as a result of imposing middle class norms and values onto students?
They may form anti-school subcultures and non-conformist students.
What does parsons argue the two main functions of education are?
1) focal socialising agent: the bridge between family and society
2) meritocracy: teaching the value of equality for every student to achieve their full potential
How does education bridge the gap between family and wider society according to Parsons?
-Merges particularistic standards, from the family and universalistic standards, from society in order for the student to achieve their status.
-education prepares us for society through its meritocratic values
What do Davis & Moore see as the main function of the education system?
Role allocation
What is role allocation?
-The education system sifts and sorts people according to their ability
-Creates necessary inequality to ensure the most important roles are performed by the most suited people
What do Blau and Duncan say?
The modern economy is dependent on ‘human capital’ - workers skills- and meritocracy enables people to be put into the best job suited for them.
what are some evaluation points of the functionalist views on education?
-Ample evidence that equality in education doesn’t exist: achievement is influenced by class background
-Education only transmits the ideology of the minority- ruling class
-Neoliberals and the New Right argue the state does not prepare young people adequately for work
