Perspectives of education Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are 2 functions of the education system according to functionalists?
- Creating a bridge between home and a wider society (parsons)
- Role Allocation and Meritocracy (Davis and Moore)
What does Parsons mean by particularistic and universalistic standards?
Particularistic standards are the values taught in the home and universalistic standards are the values in wider society. School helps to prepare people for this transition.
What does Parsons compare education to?
A focal socialization agency
How could Parsons argument of teaching core values be countered?
Marxists would criticize this idea as they see the education system as transmitting the values of the ruling class, as outlined by Bowles and Gintis’ correspondence principle.
What is role allocation in education and who’s idea is it?
Education allocates people to the more appropriate jobs for their talents using examinations and qualifications to ensure the most talented are allocated to the occupations most important for society.
Davis and Moore say the education system shifts and sorts people into roles to ensure the most able get the best jobs.
How is role allocation meritocratic?
Functionalists would argue that role allocation performed by the education system gives students equality of opportunity as everyone takes that same tests and has an equal chance of success.
How have policies attempted to increase equality of opportunity?
Governments have been trying to increase it since the 1944 the tripartite system though various acts such as th 11+ and comprehensive schools.
Evaluate the functionalist idea of role allocation and meritocracy.
Marxists would argue that schools spread the myth of meritocracy which legitimises and justifies the system as we think the system is fair and blame ourselves.
They believe that money determines how good of an education you can get.
What are 2 functions of the education system according to Marxists?
- Legitimises class inequality
- Creates a passive and subservient workforce (correspondence principle)
How does the education system legitimise class inequality?
It spreads the myth of meritocracy which justifies the system as we think it is fair, when in reality it is not and we believe it is our own fault.
What makes the system not meritocratic?
Factors such as private schooling, material deprivation and cultural capital.
Evaluate the point of legitimising class inequality?
Not all pupils believe in meritocracy. For example, Paul Willis Learning to Labour. Found that working class boys didn't value education and saw it for mc kids and a 'bit cissy'. This implies that school does not make education seem fair as they view it as only being for the mc.
How does education create a passive and subservient workforce and who proposed this idea?
Bowles and Gintis argued that there is a correspondence between values learnt in education through the hidden curriculum and the way the workplace operates. This is referred to as the correspondence principle.
E.g. acceptance of hierarchy.
Evaluate the Correspondence principle.
Durkheim would argue that the hidden curriculum teaches specialist skills necessary for work which is important in this complex division of labour.
