Education

Question 1

Emile Durkheim (Functionalist)

Answer 1

Durkheim suggested there were several functions that the education system should perform for society:

• Socialising the next generation into the value consensus of society
• Promoting social solidarity
• Teaching of specialist skills for the complex division of modern labour

Question 2

Talcott Parsons (Functionalist)

Answer 2

Parsons suggested that education performs the function of secondary socialisation – converting particularistic values of family into universal values of society. Education acts as a bridge between home and society.

Question 3

Davis and Moore (Functionalist)

Answer 3

Suggested that education performs the function of role allocation – sifting and sorting pupils into the future roles based on ability.

Question 4

Louis Althusser (Marxist)

Answer 4

Suggested that the purpose of education was to reinforce and legitimise inequalities in society through the myth of meritocracy.
Described education as an ideological state apparatus that allowed the ruling class to control the working classes through passing on their ideology.

Question 5

Bowles and Gintis (Marxist)

Answer 5

Education prepares students for their future roles as workers through the hidden curriculum. The Correspondence Principle explains how school mirrors work through hierarchies, promoting blind obedience, alienation and submissive behaviours.

Question 6

Paul Willis (Marxist)

Answer 6

Adopting a neo-Marxist approach suggested that working-class pupils were aware of their exploitation and showed agency in resisting the attempts of education to get them to conform

Question 7

Education reinforces patriarchal dominance (Feminist)

Answer 7

Despite the recent progress made by girls in education, feminists suggest that the purpose of education is to reinforce the patriarchy. This is achieved through:

• Subject choices
• Teacher interactions with females
• Tolerance of sexual harassment in schools
• Content of curriculum focused on male achievements
• Uniform regulations

Question 8

Education should operate on market principles (New Right)

Answer 8

Operation of education on market principles of competition and choice – usually administered through social policy (Education Reform Act, OFSTED, Free Schools and Academies, Marketisation of HE).

Question 9

Education is fragmented (Postmodern)

Answer 9

Increased choice over education reduces it’s structural impacts – education is individualised to pupil’s needs.

Question 10

Global Education (Postmodern)

Answer 10

Influences of globalisation on education, both in policy and through the media. Greater access to education through media which dilutes what institutions look to enforce.

Question 11

Interactionist View

Answer 11

Whilst nominally a conflict theory, it focuses on interactions between individuals in education rather than seeing education as having a purpose.