sociology education

Rôle of Functionalism; see society as harmonious

• Society must share same norms and values to create social solidarity

• social institutions eg. Education preform a positive function by socialising societies members and sustain social solidarity.

• Conservative view on society, only focuses on positive aspects (criticised for this)

Two Key Questions functionalist asks

1. What are the functions of education for society as a whole?

2. What are functional relationships between education and other parts of the social system?

Identifies two main functions of education

Social Solidarity

• Main function of education transmitting norms and values between generations

• Necessary to create Social solidarity, to feel part of a wider community

• Correspondence theory; School is society/workplace in miniature, through enforcing
  rules/hidden curriculum

Teaching Specialist Skills

• Also believe it is used to teach individuals specialist skills so they can take place withins a highly complex division of labour.

• Marxists argue Ed.institutions transmit a dominant culture, serving the ruling class

• Studies such as by Willis show transmission of norms and values not always successful as anti school subcultures are formed

Education acts as a bridge for socialisation between the family and wider society
- Status within family is ascribed for a child and standards change and apply to them solely
- In wider society an individual is judge against standards which apply equally to all members of society eg Law
-Education allows to bridge this gap eg. Uniform, rules, merit

• Dennis wrong argues functionalists wrongly imply pupilspassively accept all they are taught and never reect school values
• Parsons assumes western education systems are fairy mericratic, when the existanc eof privae education and inequalities tied to scoial class, gender and ethnicity challeng this view 

• Believe education sifts and sorts peopleaccording to their ability
• Most talented who achieve higher qualifications which lead to functionallly important jobs with high rewards
• This lead sto inequalities in society which is natual an desirable in capatalist socities as there is only a limited amount of talet