Theories in Education - Sociology

What did Parsons say about education?

• School = ‘Focal socialising agency’

• At home children are help by Paticularistic values (each child is treated differently, as unique) → school teaches Universalistic values (everyone is treated as the same, held to same standard)

• School = bridge between Home and Wider society, prepares children for live in society and the modern economy

• School is meritocratic, based on Individual achievement, and equal opportunity

What are the two functions of education according to Durkeim (1903)?

1. To create Social Solidarity

Transmitting society’s culture via Secondary Socialisation

School = society in miniature → creating belonging, teaching cooperation (e.g between on family/friends), creating value consensus

2. To teach Specialist Skills

What are the two functions of Education according to Davis and Moore?

1. To Sift and Sort

2. Role Allocation

What did Chubb and Moe (1990) argue about educaution?

• Marketisation

• 
  

What are the 6/7 features did the Education Reform act bring to education?

1. League tables

2. Oftsted

3. Open enrolment

4. Finding (per pupil) model

5. Grant maintained school

6. National curriculum

7. Section 28

What did Willis, (1977) find in his research into education?

Secondary school W/C boys formed an ‘anti school subculture’

Causing them to devalue education and school, underachieve

Value breaking rules, ‘having a laff’, and doing bare minimum to get through school

Prepares them for monotomy of W/C jobs, their under achievement ensures a supply of low skill workers for capitalist exploitation

What is an Ideological State Apparatus according to Althusser? (1971)

A tool/institution used by the state/government and ruling classes (Bourgeoise) to control the minds and ideas of people in society. E,g the education system, the media, or religion.

What are the two functions that education performs as an ISA?

1. Reproduces Class Inequality

2. Legitimises Class Inequality

What is a Repressive State Apparatus?

A tool/institution used by the state/government and ruling classes used for oppression and forceful repression when people go against their ideas

What are the 5 key Postmodern educational theories?

Thompson (1997) - Postmodern education breaks free of ‘Oppressive uniformity’, the one-size-fits all approach

Usher (1997) - 5 key characteristics of Postmodern education:

Flexible (e.g distance learning), Lifelong, Learner = active, Run by local community, Diverse and customised to learner’s unqiue needs

Kelly (2009) - British economy operates in global market, international competition (due to rapid globalisation) e.g PISA, international league tables

Ball (2013) - University = marketed towards international students, international branches

Holborn (2019) - Multiculturalism is positive - increasing tolerance, sharing and understanding of diverse cultures

What did Sharpe (Liberal feminist, 1976 - 1994) find?

D - Unstructured interview with w/c girls in London comprehensive school

F - 1976 - Girls priorities were: love, marriage and children (homemaking, family life)

whereas in 1994 main priority was their career

S -

What did Weiner (1993) say about Education?

Secondary School Curriculum = Women free zone