Education Topic 1 - Sociology Theories

• Socialisation - value consensus / cultural transmission / group solidarity
• Skills Provision – teach skills needed for the economy
• Role Allocation- allocate people to jobs

School is like a mini society to prepare pupils to be future workers & citizens 

Key Functions:

• Socialisation - promote value consensus, social solidarity, a shared identity & collective conscience 
• Cultural Transmission through literature & history
• Work Skills - to find our place within a complex divison of labour

School is like a bridge between home & work it is meant to teach us the value of achievement

Key Functions:

• Role Allocation - ascribed to achieved 
• Acceptance of inequality - schools are meritocratic - judged on universalistic principles not particularistic 

Schools have to 'sift & sort' future workers - role allocation is allocating pupils to their future work roles by assessing individuals aptitudes & abilities 

• Some consider the curriculum ethnocentric - lacks culture & ethnicity & favours British culture
• Are schools meritocratic?
• Is there a link between academic achievement & high pay? NO
• Marxists argue that education in capitalist society only passes on ruling class ideology 
• The Education system does not teach specialised work skills
• Equal opportunities in education don't exist - Achievement is greatly influenced by class background rather than ability