functions of education

Question 1

what is the functionalist view?

Answer 1

Consensus- society is based on the shared norms and values that maintain social bonds

Question 2

identify 2 main functions of education

Answer 2

1. maintaining value consensus.
2. preparing young people for work

Question 3

what does maintaining value consensus mean?

Answer 3

transmitting shared heritage and sustaining social solidarity.

Question 4

what does preparing the young for work consist of?

Answer 4

happens through secondary socialisation, meritocracy

Question 5

who are the three main functionalists?

Answer 5

1. Durkheim
2. Parsons.
   3.Davis and moore

Question 6

what are the two functions of education according to durkheim?

Answer 6

1. social solidarity
2. preparing the young for work

Question 7

how does education promote social solidarity?

Answer 7

transmits shared norms and values which bind people together - it teaches universalistic rules.

Question 8

how does education prepare the young for work?

Answer 8

Skills needed to participate in society, creates a division of labour.

Question 9

what does parsons say is the function of education?

list two

Answer 9

1. secondary socialisation
2. meritocracy

Question 10

what is secondary socialisation?

parson

Answer 10

allows students to move from the ascribed status of the home to the universalistic standards of education

Question 11

what is meritocracy?

Answer 11

it is based on praise on individual achievement

Question 12

Why does Durkheim emphasise the importance of teaching societies shared history?

Answer 12

Gives new members of society a sense of shared identity based on the past i.e helps maintain value consensus.

Question 13

According to Parsons, how is education a bridge between the family and wider society?

Answer 13

The families specific values are replaced with societies universalistic values creating value consensus - everyone shares the same values.

Question 14

According to Parsons, how is school a ‘society in miniature’?

Answer 14

Both school and society are meritocratic, in school, success and failure based on ability prepares them for society’s competitiveness.

Question 15

What does Davis and Moore say the role of education is?

Answer 15

role allocation

Question 16

what is role allocation?

davis and moore

Answer 16

provides a means of selecting people into social hierarchy. power and wealth are linked to educational achievement

Question 17

What are the evaluations of functionalism?

Answer 17

1) . Meritocracy is a myth.
2) . Values transmitted represent the ruling-class.
3) . Education may not equip people for work.
4) . Too deterministic.

Question 18

How is meritocracy a myth?

Bowles and Gintis

Answer 18

achievement is based on social class, not ability, convinces people that failure is there own fault

Question 19

How do Marxists criticise functionalists?

Answer 19

Values transmitted aren’t societies shared values, they represent the ruling-class.

Question 20

How can the link between education and workers be criticised?

Answer 20

It’s sometimes difficult to see a direct link between the subjects studied and the requirements of workers.

Question 21

How is the functionalist view too deterministic?

Answer 21

Interactionism = Not all pupils passively accept school’s values, some reject them and rebel.