Perspectives on Education Flashcards
(17 cards)
Durkheim on Social solidarity
Believes that society needs a sense of solidarity and the education system helps to create social solidarity.
- School also acts as a ‘society in miniature’
Durkheim and Specialist skills
Education teaches individuals specialist skills and knowledge they need to play their part in social division of labour
Wolf review of vocational education
high quality apprenticeships are rare 1/3 of 16-19 year olds are on this path which wont lead them to higher paying jobs
Parsons and Meritocracy
Parsons (1961)
‘Focal socialisation agency’ in modern society. Bridge the gap between the family and wider society
Everyone is given equal opportunity and everyone achieves rewards through their own efforts and ability
Davis and Moore - Role Allocation
education as a device of selection and role allocation. focus on relationship of education and social inequality.
Inequality is necessary so the most important roles in society filled by the most talented people
Tumin (1953) - Eval of Davis and Moore
Their argument is circular
Marxist Evaluation of functionalism view on education
Marxist argue that education in capitalist society only transmits the ideology of a minority - of the ruling class
The New Rights view on education
The education system isn’t achieving its goals because it is ran by the state because it sets a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
- Solution is the ‘marketisation of education’ competition between schools is healthy
Simularties between New Right and Functionalist on Education
- some people are naturally more talented than others
- favour education system ran on merotcratic principles of open comp
- education should socialise pupils into shared values like competition and instil sense of national identity
Difference between New Right and Fuctionalists on Education
- NR doesn’t believe the current education system is achieving these goals.
- Reasons for its failure is that is run by the state.
Chubb and Moe - Consumer Choice
State run Education failed in the US bc:
- Hasn’t created equal opportunity + Failed disadvantaged groups
- Inefficient it fails to produce pupils with skills needed by the economy
In a study they found:
- Pupils from low income families consistently do 5% better in private than state schools
It would be improved by introducing market into the state sector
Evaluation on New Rights views on education
- real cause of low education standards isn’t state control but social inequality and inadequate funding of state schools
- Marxist argue that education doesn’t impose a shared national culture
Marxist perspective on education
Prevent revolution and maintain capitalism
Althusser
Ideological state apparatus
bourgeosis control peoples ideas valuses and beliefs
Repressive state apperatus
maintaining borgeosis rule through force (police, millitary)
Bowls and Gintis - Correspondence principle
- Close parallels between the school system and the workforce
- Through the hidden curriculum
- Operates as reproducing the workforce
Myth of Meritocracy - Bowls and Gintis
Meritocracy doesn’t exist - disagreement with functionalist like parsons
‘myth-making machine’
Evaluation on Marxist perspective on Education
- Postmodernist criticise Bowls and Gintis corrispondace principle - different kind on work force now
- Feminist Bowls and Gintis ignore that schools reproduce the workforce
