Theories Of Education

Question 1

Which theorist identifies role allocation as a function of education

Answer 1

Functionalists Davis and More

Question 2

Describe Davis and More’s theory of role allocation

Answer 2

Education system ‘sifts and sorts’ pupils (through setting and streaming) into future job roles to ensure the highest ability / hardest working students get the most important jobs
This means that inequality is necessary for a meritocratic society

Question 3

Evaluate David and More’s theory of education (2 points)

Answer 3

• Marxist > myth of meritocracy > highest achieving are not necessarily the highest ability/ hardest working due to class inequality
• highest rewarding jobs are not necessarily the most important eg. Footballers

Question 4

Which sociologist identified social solidarity / cohesion as a function of education

Answer 4

Functionalist Durkheim

Question 5

Explain Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity as a function of education

Answer 5

• education teaches children shared norms, value and culture of their society, socialising them into a value consensus.
• done through the transmutation of British values in the curriculum ( history instills a shared heritage, citizenship etc. ) creating social cohesion in society

Question 6

Evaluate Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity as a function of education

Answer 6

• Marxists : only transmits ruling class ideology

Question 7

Which sociologist suggests education acts as a ‘focal socialising agency’ which instills universalistic standards

Answer 7

Functionalist Parsons

Question 8

Explain Parson’s idea that the purpose of education is secondary socialisation

Answer 8

• bridges the gap between the family and wider society > teaches universalistic standards (rather than the particularistic thought in the family).
• teaches meritocracy as status must be achieved in society > schools act as ‘society in miniature’ in preparation

Question 9

What sociologist suggested the purpose of education is to teach specialist skills

Answer 9

Functionalist Durkheim

Question 10

Explain the functionalist idea that the role of education is to teach specialist skills

Answer 10

Durkheim - specialist skills taught in schools to prepare a future workforce with the skills necessary to ensure the maintenance of economic stability in the future
Blay & Duncan > modern economy depends on human capital ( workers skills)

Question 11

Evaluate the views of Durkheim and Blay & Duncan that the function of education is to provide specialist skills

Answer 11

New right > argues state education fails to prepare young people adequately for work due to the lack of competition within schools

Question 12

Which sociologist suggests the role of education is to maintain capitalist control through ideological state apparatus

Answer 12

Marxist Althusser

Question 13

Explain Althusser’s theory of the role of education

Answer 13

• education acts as part of the bourgeoise’s ideological state apparatus that maintains capitalism by controlling the ideas values and beliefs of w/c children
• socialises children into believing that inequality is inevitable through the myth of meritocracy, creating a false class consciousness in w/c children

Question 14

Evaluate Althusser’s theory of the role of education

Answer 14

Neo Marxist : Willis > done a study into w /c school boys and going they do not passively accept capitalist indoctrination taught in schools > develop anti school subcultures reject capitalist control

Question 15

Which sociologists suggested the correspondence principle

Answer 15

Marxist Bowles & Gintis

Question 16

Explain marxist sociologists Bowles and Gintis’ correspondence principle of the role of education

Answer 16

-The education system reflects working in a capitalist society
- indoctrinates children into a obedient, hardworking workforce needed to maintain class disparity through a false class consciousness
- values are taught through the hidden curriculum eg. ( acceptance of hierarchy, competition)

Question 17

Describe the findings of Bowles & Gintis’ study (correspondence principle)

Answer 17

Study into 237 American high schools found that personality traits that lead to passive, compliant workers are rewarded

Question 18

Evaluate the correspondence principle

Answer 18

• B&G’s study lacks ecological validity > in America in 1988 cannot generalise to a modern day British society
• functionalist > agree that school can be seen as ‘society in miniature’

Question 19

Describe Bowles and Gintis’ myth of meritocracy

Answer 19

The education system justifies the privileges of the m/c through meritocracy, making it seem like a result of hard work rather than ascribed privileges, to avoid w/c rebellion against the unfair inequality they face by instilling a false class consciousness in w/c students from a young age

Question 20

What do new right sociologists think the function of the education system should be

Answer 20

• socialise ppl into shared values
• based on competition + meritocracy

Question 21

What do new right theorist think wrong with the education system

Answer 21

Run by the state > lacks competition, introduction of catchment area in 1988 means hard work is no longer necessary

Question 22

How do new right sociologists suggest the state should improve education

Answer 22

• impose framework which ensures schools have to compete
• ensure schools transmit a shared culture through the emphasis of British values in the curriculum

Question 23

Which sociologists suggest marketisation should be put in place to improve the education system

Answer 23

New right theorists Brown and Lauder

Question 24

Explain how new right sociologists think marketisation would improve education

Answer 24

• schools should be run like businesses in order to encourage competition and improve standards and ensure children have skills and knowledge needed to ensure future economic success and therefore global success
• done by publicly published assessment results and direct ranking of schools > money given to successful schools, giving failing schools incentive to improve

Question 25

What do postmodernists believe about modern society that means education is changing

Answer 25

- due to globalisation we live in a fragmented society, where unifying elements ( shared norms and values) have broken down > we need diversity in education to meet the unpredictable needs of the future workplace

Question 26

How do postmodernist believe education is becoming more diverse to meet the needs of ‘post fordist society’

Answer 26

- increase in different types of schools - Students + parents have more individual choice - more ‘hyperreal’ > use of technology - focus on individual needs, using different teaching styles - becoming more flexible ( learning from home)

Question 27

What sociologists suggested human capital is developed in vocational education

Answer 27

Postmodernist - Schultz

Question 28

Explain what Schultz suggests about vocational courses

Answer 28

Produce more skilled, flexible workforce that are better at meeting the needs of modern employers Helps students promenade for the wide range of jobs available due to globalisation

Question 29

Which sociologists suggested implementing a voucher system to improve education

Answer 29

New right theorists Chubb and Moe

Question 30

Explain why Chubb and Moe suggested a voucher system to improve education

Answer 30

- education should no longer be run by the state as the current system fails to create equal opportunity for disadvantaged groups as - research found students from low income backgrounds consistently done 5% better when put in private education

Question 31

Explain the ‘voucher system’

Answer 31

- education would no longer be provided by the state but instead the state would provide families with vouchers to spend on fees to send their children to private schools - this would encourage competition, raising standards and create equal opportunity in education

Question 32

Evaluate the voucher system

Answer 32

Ball et al - myth of Parentocracy - doesn’t actually remove inequality in education > created social class inequality as middle class parents have greater educational and social capital which they can use to benefit their children’s education

Question 33

What do new right theorists believe about national identities in schools

Answer 33

- similar to functionalist > the state should ensure that schools transmit a shared culture through the teaching of British values in the national curriculum