Functionalist perspective on education

Durkheim view

The education system functions to create social solidarity and specialist skills

Parsons’ view

school acts as a bridge between family (where children are special) and wider society(where children are treated equal to everyone). Movement from primary to secondary socialisaiton

Davis and Moore view

The main function of education is to select and allocate individuals for future roles through exams and qualitifications

Functionalist view

Education is a vital institution that helps maintain social order, economic productivity and integration

Schools are agents of secondary socilsation because….

Schools prepare students for adult roles , support meritocracy and provide skills and values of society

Social Solidarity

education helps to bind members of society together by transmiting a shared culture and set of values

School acts as a …

mini society

Formal curiculum

official formal curiculum set by the government for state schools

Hidden curiculum

taught through interactions between students and teachers outside lessons eg. punctuality and strong work ethic

Specialist skills

provides specific knowledge and skills required for specialised roles such as doctor, lawyer

Parsons functions of education

• In family children are jduged by particularistic values and in society children are judged by universalistic values

• Schools are meritocric instistutions

Davis and Moore : Inequality is necessary because….

it allocates most talented into important positions and rewards motivated people to develop their skills

Strength

• consensus and stablity and education transimit shared norms and values . eg. Durkheim argues through social solidarity and specialist skills and Parsons argues through acting as a bridge between family and society

• Promotes social cohesion in a diverse society

Weakness one - overstates meritocracy

Marxist argue that meritocracy is a myth and achievement reflects class inequality for example middle class can afford private tuition which suports their learning

Weakness 2 - Patriarchal

Feminist argue this reinforces patriarchy as subject choice is gendered and there is a streotype regarding gender pay gap

Weakness 3 - Bowles and Gintis

Education reinforces capitalist values rather than meritocracy

Weakness 4 - Lack of skill relevance

schools dont always provide skills needed for the workforce

Weakness 5 : Ingores student resistance

Dennis and Wong - Assumes students are passive conformist - anti subcultures are evidence students can rebel