Functionalism Flashcards
(15 cards)
Who are the Functionalists?
• Durkheim
• Parsons
• Davis & moore
Durkheim : educations mains function
• Social Solidarity - society must unite to create commitment and belonging
• Specialised Skills - education is needed for division of labour
Durkheim belief of education
•transmission of societies norms and values
• society needs solidarity
• schools provides discipline to avoid damage to society
Parsons function of education
• Focal Socialising Agency
Durkheim : Criticisms
• Deterministic - rules are created by ruling class not all society
(Hargreaves) - doesn’t transmit shared values
• functionalism - competition is vital
Focal Socialising Agency
• education is a bridge between family and society
• Different principles
parsons: Standards
• particularities standards - family gives ascribed status
• universalists standards - achieved status / meritocratic (exams)
2 Values Instilled In American Education systems
- Value of Achievement
- Equality of Opportunity - creates social mobility through own efforts
Talcott Parsons : Criticisms
• fails to consider diversity of values
• not everyone has same chances - doesn’t consider other reasons
- money - ethnic background
Role Allocation
• assess independent abilities
• schools helps match to best suited jobs
• education is vital for selection of roles in society
David & Moore
•Further expands on Parsons Role Allocation
• ‘sifts and sorts’ students
David and Moore belief of inequality
• it’s necessary
• ensures roles go to right people
• otherwise can be dangerous
Human Capital Definition
• Blail & Duncan
• society works on how workers use their skills
• meritocratic education = best
David & Moore : Criticisms
• Marxism - myth of meritocracy
• weak link - qualifications & income
• Social Stratification
Social Stratification Definition
Structured inequalities within hierarchies that leave people with more resources and opportunities than others
