Topic 1 Role of education

Question 1

What do functionalists believe is the role of education

Answer 1

• they argue education allows children to build skills to get a job and help society
• they believe education is important because it allows everyone to be educated so they can help society together

Question 2

What do marxists believe the role of education is?

Answer 2

• marxists believe children are told to accept hierarchy and are taught inequality is inevitable
• education helps feed capitalism as they socialise new workers and teaches them to obey authority
• education stops a revolution

Question 3

What does Durkheim say about education?
(Functionalist)

Answer 3

• the education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture from one generation to the next. Durkheim uses the examples of teaching a country’s history to instil a sense of shared heritage, so we know where we came from.
• argues that school is something of a ‘society in miniature’ preparing us for wider society later on.
• education performs 2 key functions:
  
  • Social Solidarity
  • Specialist Skills

Question 4

Give 2 criticisms of Durkheim’s view of the role of education?

Answer 4

• Marxists argue that education upholds capitalism by allowing the bourgeoise to succeed and keep the workers properly educated and in well paid jobs
• Schools teach the values of a specific religion rather than the values of society as a whole

Question 5

What does Parsons say about the role of education?

Answer 5

• sees education as a ‘focal socialisation agency’ which acts as a bridge between the family and wider society.
• It acts as a bridge between family and wider society.
• both school and society are meritocratic

Question 6

define meritocratic

Answer 6

everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed and rewards are based upon talent and ability.

Question 7

What are particularistic standards?

Answer 7

standards/ rules that are specific within a family
eg chores, times, electronics
children are judged by these stamdards

Question 8

What are universalistic standards?

Answer 8

Standards/ rules that take place in education.
eg attendance, punctuality, behaviour, exams, uniform

Question 9

How can Parsons be criticised?

Answer 9

• Some people do better in education because they can afford better help, not because of talent.
• Marxists argue meritocracy is a myth, some people have more economic and cultural capital to take advantage of the economic system.

Question 10

Do marxists believe in meritocracy?

Answer 10

No
Social backgrounds result in students being treated differently. Lower social classes and ethnic minorities may achieve poorer results due to lower expectations rather than lower ability. Some schools only teach the values of their faith.

Question 11

Define capital

Answer 11

having an advantage or power

Question 12

define economic capital

Answer 12

having an advantage of more money and power

Question 13

define cultural capital

Answer 13

having an advantage in knowledge, tastes and attitudes

Question 14

What do Davis and Moore say about the role of education?
(Functionalists)

Answer 14

• Davis and Moore argue that schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles (role allocation).
• They argue inequality is needed for society to function effectively.
• Not everyone is equally talented, we need the most able performing roles such as surgeon or pilot.

Question 15

What do Blau and Duncan say about

Question 16

How is the functionalist view of the role of education useful?

Answer 16

• it examines the important role education plays in preparing people for work.
• it focuses on how those who work hard are rewarded with the best grades and how education works on meritocratic principles.
• it highlights how inequality is needed to ensure all jobs are filled in society.
• it identifies how education socialises people in to a collective identity.

Question 17

How can the functionalist view of the role of education be criticised?

Answer 17

• An equal opportunity of education doesn’t exist as achievement is influenced by class background rather than ability
• School does not teach specialist skills adequately - it doesn’t prepare for work correctly
• Marxists would argue schools only instil the values of the ruling class - not society as a whole
• Feminists would argue that school reinforces a patriarchal ideology through the use of double standards and the male gaze.

Question 18

What is Neo liberalism?

Answer 18

Neo liberalism is an economic doctrine that has had major influence on economic policy.
Neoliberals argue that the state should not provide services such as education, health and welfare.
They have a laissez-faire attitude and have influenced all governments since 1979.
- They argue governments should encourage competition and privatise state run services.

Question 19

What do the new right believe about the role of education?

Answer 19

• they favour the marketisation of education (creating an education market where schools compete for pupils and funding, the idea being that it will raise standards in education)
• the government should have minimal involvement
• school is meritocratic
• schools socialise children into a shared history and culture

Question 20

Why do Chubb and Moore argue that the US state run education has failed?

Answer 20

• it has not created equal opportunities and failed the needs of disadvantaged groups
• it is inefficient because it fails to produce pupils with the skills needed for the economy
• private schools deliver high quality education because unlike state schools, they are answerable to paying consumers

Question 21

How can the new right view of the role of education be criticised?

Answer 21

• Gerwitz and Ball argue competition between schools benefits the middle class more because they can use economic and cultural capital to choose the most desirable schools.
• Marxists argue education does not impose a shared national culture -but imposes a culture of the dominant ideology