Functionalism and Marxism

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Similarities between functionalism and marxism Both see the education system as a powerful influence on socialising students ensuring they conform to existing social norms and values. Both are ‘macro’ (large scale) theories concerned with the struct
Both see schools playing a role in legitimising (justifying and explaining) social inequality. Both see education as serving the ‘needs’ of industrial and/or capital society.
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Differences between functionalism and marxism perspectives on education. Functionalism Education is meritocratic and provides a means for upward social mobility. Education serves the needs of an industrial society with specialised division of lab
- Education serves the needs of the social system by socialising new generations into the society’s culture and shared norms and values, leading to social harmony, stability and social integration. - Education justifies and legitimises social ine
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Marxism Education contributes to the reproduction of class inequalities, few people achieve upward social mobility. Meritocracy is a myth. Education serves the needs of a capitalist society divided into social classes.
Education serves the needs of the capitalism by socialising children into the dominant ideology (ruling class norms and values) leading to an obedient workforce and the stability of capitalism. Education legitimises social class inequality by persua
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Criticisms of both perspectives They both give too much emphasis to the role of education in forming students’ identity (see people as ‘puppets of society’) and they pay too little attention to the influence of other agencies of socialisation, such
There are arm chair theorists on both sides - a lack of empirical evidence/research to back up their arguments. They both see too tight link between education and the economy and exaggerate the extent to which schools provide a ready, willing, and qu
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marxism
functionalism
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

- Education serves the needs of the social system by socialising new generations into the society’s culture and shared norms and values, leading to social harmony, stability and social integration. - Education justifies and legitimises social ine

Back

Differences between functionalism and marxism perspectives on education. Functionalism Education is meritocratic and provides a means for upward social mobility. Education serves the needs of an industrial society with specialised division of lab

Card 3

Front

Education serves the needs of the capitalism by socialising children into the dominant ideology (ruling class norms and values) leading to an obedient workforce and the stability of capitalism. Education legitimises social class inequality by persua

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

There are arm chair theorists on both sides - a lack of empirical evidence/research to back up their arguments. They both see too tight link between education and the economy and exaggerate the extent to which schools provide a ready, willing, and qu

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

functionalism

Back

Preview of the back of card 5

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