Functionalist perspective on education

What are the two main functions of education according to Durkheim?

social solidarity and specialist skills

Why is it important that education instills social solidarity according to Durkheim?

social life and cooperation would be impossible as every one would pursue their own selfish desires

How does education instill social solidarity according to Durkheim?

transmitting culture,communal gatherings,social cohesion

How is school a miniature society?

we have to work with people we don’t know through impersonal social rules that apply to everyone

How is solidarity promoted in modern school today?

through island story, where everyone is taught British values

What is an evaluation point of social solidarity in school?

some people actually feel left out and marginalised,ethnocentric curriculum,not everyone has the same level of achievement

Why is it important that school teaches specialist skills according to Durkheim?

modern society requires complex division of labour where specialist skills are needed

How are specialist skills taught in modern society ?

national curriculum,specialist knowledge,vocational skills,creation of universities

What is a criticism of teaching specialist skills in school ?

high levels of unemployment,skills shortages,girls and boys pick different subjects

What is the school according to Parsons?

focal socialising agency

What does the school act as a bridge between according to Parsons?

family and wider society

Why is a bridge between family and wider society necessary according to parsons?

status in family is ascribed whereas status in society is earned

Why is society as meritocracy according to Parsons?

everyone has equal opportunity and individuals achieve rewards through effort and ability

Why is family particularistic according to Parsons?

rules are different depending on the child

What did David and Moore argue as the purpose of education?

to allocate everyone their role based on ability and talent

Why is inequality necessary according to David and Moore?

the most talented people get the most important and highly compensated roles

Why are some jobs more highly compensated than others according to David and Moore?

to encourage competition so the most talented people get the job

How do you gain the highest rewarded roles according to David and Moore?

gain the highest qualifications

What is human capital?

workers skills

What is the purpose of meritocratic education according to Blau and Duncan?

to allocate people into a roles based on ability to be the most effective use of their talent so they can maximise productivity

What are some criticisms of functionalism?

Marxists would argue that education simply allows us to learn skills that can be exploited by the upper class,society is not a meritocracy,the education system fails to tech specialist skills