Education

Question 1

Who was Emile Durkheim?

Answer 1

A French sociologist who saw major function of education as the transmission, (passing on), of society’s norms and values.

Question 2

What theory did Durkheim follow?

Answer 2

Functionalism

Question 3

What did Durkheim see as the 2 main functions of education?

Answer 3

Creating social solidarity.
Teaching specialist skills.

Question 4

Why does Durkheim say social solidarity is important?

Answer 4

Without social solidarity social life and co-operation would be impossible because individuals would pursue own selfish desires.

Question 5

How does the education system form social solidarity?

Answer 5

Transmit society’s culture and teaches a country’s history to install a sense of shared heritage and commitment to the wider social group.

Question 6

How does school act as ‘society in miniature’? + give examples.

Answer 6

Prepare individuals for life in wider society.
For Example:
- Co-operate with people who are neither friends nor family.
(Teachers and pupils & Colleagues and customers)
-Interact with others according to a set of impersonal rules that apply to everyone.

Question 7

Why does education teach specialist knowledge and skills?

Answer 7

So individuals can play their part in the social division of labour.

Question 8

What is the specialised division of labour?

Answer 8

People have specialised jobs which require specific skills and knowledge.

Question 9

Evaluation of Durkheim.

Answer 9

-Assumes society has shared culture that education system can pass on.
Some sociologists see Britain as multi-cultural which results in no single culture to pass on.
Can be argued that a multicultural society needs some shared norms and values (e.g., common language).
-Marxists argue the education system serves the interests of the ruling class (Bourgeoisie) rather than of society as a whole.
-Some researchers argue that schools emphasise individual competition through exams rather than encouraging working together, co-operation and social solidarity
-Durkheim laid foundation for functionalist theories of education.

Question 10

What functionalist sociologists research education?

Answer 10

Durkheim
Parsons
Davis and Moore

Question 11

What are functionalist views on education?

Answer 11

Focus on positive contributions made by the education system.
Transmit societies norms and values promoting value consensus.
A consensus view on society.