Functionalist View of The Role of Education

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  • Created by: asusre
  • Created on: 06-04-21 11:15
Who are the key functionalist sociologists for the role of education?
Durkheim (1903),
Parsons (1961),
Davis and Moore (1945)
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What do functionalists think is the main function of education?
For functionalists, the main function of education is to fulfill the needs of the economy.
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According to Durkheim (1903), what are the two functions of education?
Durkheim (1903) believes that education creates social solidarity and teaches specialist skills.
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Define social solidarity.
Social solidaity means that all members of society feel as though they are part of a single community with shared values.
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How does the education system create social solidarity?
The education system creates social solidarity by transmitting society's norms and values to the next generation, for example, teaching the history of the country instils a sense of shared heritage.
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How does social solidarity benefit the economy?
Social solidarity benefits the economy by maintaining social order and cultivating a more productive workforce by teaching children how to cooperate with people they don't like.
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How does the teaching of specialist skills help the economy?
Teaching children specialist skills helps the economy as they go on to join the workforce and play their role in the complex social division of labour.
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How would you evaluate the idea that education promotes social solidarity?
1) Marxists - education transmits the ideology of the ruling class.
2) Interactionist Wrong (1961) - over-socialised view of people as puppets, implies no one rejects the school's values.
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How would you evaluate the idea that schools teach specialist skills?
1) The New Right - state education fails to prepare students adequately for work.
2) Wolf (2011) - a third of 16-19 year olds are on courses which do not lead to h.e. or good jobs.
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According to Parsons (1961), what is the function of the education system?
Parsons (1961) argues that education is the 'focal socialisation agency' which prepares children to move from the family to wider society.
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What are the differences between the family and wider society?
1) The family judges children by particularistic standards, whereas society judges people by universalistic standards.
2) Children have an ascribed status in the family whereas people have an achieved status in society.
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What is the reason for the differences between the family and wider society?
Society is a meritocracy, whereas the family is not.
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Define meritocracy.
Meritocracy is a system where everyone is given an equal opportunity and people achieve rewards through their own effort and ability.
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Define particularistic standards.
Particularistic standards are placed on a particular individual based on their ascribed status.
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Define universalistic standards.
Universalistic standards mean that everyone is judged on the same standards.
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Define ascribed status.
Ascribed status means that your position in society is based on the fixed characteritics you were born with.
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Define achieved status.
Achieved status means that your position in society is based on your own effort and ability.
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How does this socialisation of children into meritocracy help the economy?
This helps the economy as school and society are both meritocratic, so this teaches children that hard work will get them better jobs and promotions, which leads to a more productive workforce.
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How would you evaluate the view that education is based on meritocracy?
Marxists would argue that education is not a meritocracy as equal opportunity is a myth. Educational achievement is greatly influenced by class/ethnicity.
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According to Davis and Moore (1945), what is the function of the education system?
Davis and Moore (1945) argue that the function of education is role allocation.
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Define role allocation.
Role allocation is when the education system sorts students based on their ability and allocates them to the job they would be best suited to.
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How does the education allocate students to roles?
Education is the proving ground for ability. The system sorts students by their ability using exams and qualifications.
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According to Davis and Moore (1945), why is inequality necessary?
Inequality is necessary because some people are naturally more talented, so they should occupy more important jobs. Society has to offer higher rewards for the best jobs in order to create competition.
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How does inequality and competition for more important jobs benefit the economy?
Competition for better jobs benefits the economy as it ensures that the most important jobs in society are filled by the most talented people.
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How would you evaluate the view that inequality is necessary in education?
Tumin (1953) - this is a circular argument, so it does not justify inequality. A job is highly rewarded because it is important and a job is important because it is highly rewarded.
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Card 2

Front

What do functionalists think is the main function of education?

Back

For functionalists, the main function of education is to fulfill the needs of the economy.

Card 3

Front

According to Durkheim (1903), what are the two functions of education?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Define social solidarity.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does the education system create social solidarity?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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