Role of Education: Functionalism Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is a consensus theory?
Those that see people in society as having shared norms and values. Social institutions work together to maintain social cohesion and stability.
How do functionalists view society? Hint: Organic Analogy
They view society as a system of integrated parts- each institution has a role to play in maintaining society. (E.g the Organic Analogy: comparison to society as a living organism so different parts of society have different roles to play else it wouldn’t function.)
What did functionalists say about socialisation?
Primary socialisation- the norms and values learnt in the home/ transmission of culture.
Secondary socialisation- promotes value consensus (shared agreement about what is important or valuable among a group of people)
What happens if the family or education are not playing an effective role?
Society experiences anomie- a sense of normlessness as norms and values are unclear.
What were the two main functions of education given by Durkheim (1903) ?
- Creating social solidarity
- Teaching specialist skills
What is social solidarity?
It is feeling as though you belong to a single community. Durkheim believes that education socialises people to teach them shared norms and values to maintain social solidarity. For example, school does this through assemblies, uniform and homework. Assemblies are in a shared space where community is promoted through its topic choice (e.g sports awards, remembrance.)
What are specialist skills?
Durkheim suggested that schools teach us skills which are required for a specific future occupation so that we can play our specific role in society to maintain consensus. For example, everybody needs to fulfil a role in society whether that’s a nurse, bin man, teacher etc.
What is meritocracy?
Parsons (1961) said that school acts as a bridge between the family and the wider society. Children need to learn a new way of behaving as family and society act on different principles.
Meritocratic principles= everyone has equal opportunity.
What does Parsons label the family and school/society as?
Family- Particularistic. The child’s status is ascribed (fixed by birth) they are treated as an individual.
School/society- Universalistic. Individuals are judged by by the same standards, status is achieved.
What is role allocation?
Davis and Moore (1945) said that schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles. Education acts as a proving ground for ability- it ‘sifts and sorts.’
They view social inequality is necessary- the primary roles in society need to be filled by the most talented.
Evaluation: Denis Wrong (1961)
He argues that functionalists have an ‘over socialised view’ of people as mere puppets of society. For values to be transmitted, there has to be receptivity by those who are the audience of the ‘message.’
Evaluation: Interactionists view
Has shown that people are not uncritical, they are passive recipients of all that they are taught and can challenge the school’s values (Paul Willis- ‘Learning to Labour’)
Evaluation: Wolf review of vocational education (2011)
Claims that high quality apprenticeships are rare and up to a third of 16-19 year olds are on courses that do not lead to higher education or good jobs.
Evaluation: concept of meritocracy
Achievement is greatly based on class background. In 2019, 25% of disadvantaged pupils achieved grade 5 in English and Maths. (North and south divide statistics needed.)
Evaluation: support for role allocation
Peter Blau and Otis Duncan (1978)- human capital.
Prosperity is dependent on using its workers skills. They argue that a meritocratic system sows this best, allocates the person to the best job suited for their abilities.
Evaluation: Melvin Tumin (1953)
Criticises Davis and Moore for putting forward a circular movement- how do we know that a job is important? Because they are highly rewarded.
