Functionalist Theories on education Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is Durkheim’s theory on education?
Social solidarity - educations teaches shared norms and values that creates social solidarity.
How do schools maintain social solidarity?
Schools maintain social solidarity through assemblies, homework, uniform, attendance.
How do these procedures promote social solidarity?
Assemblies are conducted in a shared space where community is promoted through sports, ceremonies, awards - different year groups come together.
What would be a criticism of these procedures?
Marxists would argue school is ideologically driven - indoctrinating into passiveness and acceptance of rules. Assemblies provide a false consciousness of solidarity.
What is Parsons theory on education?
Bridge Theory / Meritocracy
Home teaches individuals particularistic standards, school teaches individuals universalistic standards to prepare individuals for work
What does particular, and universal mean?
Particular = individual
Universal = collective values
What is meritocracy?
A system where advancement is based on an individuals own skill, and talent rather than social class, wealth or other factors.
What is Parsons theory of meritocracy in school?
Family helps fix status at birth - ascribed status
Education helps students achieve status depending on how hard they work.
Education is meritocratic.
What is a criticism of the Meritocracy theory?
Not all students have equal chance of succeeding within school.
Consider parental involvement, disability, class, age, gender, ethnicity (CAGE).
What would Marxists argue about Meritocracy?
That meritocracy is a myth.
What is Parsons theory around what school teaches us?
Specialised Skills.
School teaches us specific skills that are required for a specific future occupation so we can play our role and maintain consensus in society
How does Parsons theory of specialised skills work in school?
For example, to become a nurse there are subjects such as:
Maths - Reading dosages.
English - Communication Skills.
Health and Social care: Employee required knowledge/characteristics.
What is a criticism of the Specialised Skills theory?
Skills are still required beyond GCSEs to pursue these jobs -
Training courses, degrees.
What is Davis and Moore’s theory on education?
Role Allocation.
Education shows which individuals are best for the jobs by sieving the higher achievers to the top
How does role allocation work within education?
School allocates students through:
- Awards and certificates.
- Exam system - encourages competition, individual achievement and hard-work.
What would the criticisms of Role Allocation be?
Marxists would argue:
- We aren’t all given the same opportunities
- Who defines which jobs are ‘better’ than others?
Feminists would argue:
- Middle/upper class, white, middle aged men dominate powerful jobs/roles in society.
What are the strengths of the Functionalist approach?
- The New Right supports the idea of functionalists - believe that meritocracy makes people responsible for their own achievement.
- It helps people work hard, reducing the burden on the state and unemployment benefit.
What are the criticisms of the Functionalist approach?
- Rose tinted - ignores the inequalities which can happen in education - racism, sexism, and middle class bias.
- We don’t always have shared norms and values - multicultural society. Some cultures do not share the same views as others.
- Education does not always teach us the specialised skills we need for work.
