The role of education - Functionalism
- Created by: katiewalters
- Created on: 14-02-15 10:45
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- The role of education - Functionalism
- What is functionalism?
- Society is a system of interdependent parts held together by a value consensus
- Role allocation
- Parsons
- Schools allocate pupils to future work roles by assessing their aptitudes and abilities
- Davis and Moore (1945)
- Inequality is necessary to ensure the most important roles are filled by the most talented people
- Not everyone is equally talented, so society has to offer higher rewards for the best jobs
- Education acts as a proving ground
- Blau and Duncan (1978)
- A meritocratic education system makes the best use of peoples' talents
- Parsons
- Emile Durkheim (1903)
- Social solidarity
- People must feel they belong to a community
- Without it, people would be selfish and social life would be impossible
- Specialist skills
- Education teaches people the skills they need to play their part in the social division of labour
- Social solidarity
- Talcott Parsons (1961)
- Particularistic standards
- Within the family
- Rules apply to a particular child
- The child's status is ascribed by birth
- Universalistic standards
- School and wider society
- Everyone judged by the same standards
- Status is largely achieved i.e. success is determined by ability and effort
- Particularistic standards
- Evaluation
- 'Educational achievement is based on merit'
- Class, gender and ethnicity also influence achievement
- 'Education selects the best people to do the best jobs'
- It's not all about grades; it's 'who you know'
- 'Education benefits society as a whole'
- Marxists say it benefits the ruling class
- Feminists say it benefits men
- 'Educational achievement is based on merit'
- VET
- Work related study
- Teaches specialist skills so they can meet society's economic needs
- E.g Youth Training Schemes; NVQs; BTECs
- What is functionalism?
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