EDUCATION functionalism

acronym for educations key role

SETS

Both S in SETS

• Social control and Social solidarity

• Social selection

E in SETS

Economic

T in SETS

Transmitting norms and values

SETS

• social control and solidarity

• economic

• transmitting norms and values

• social selection

social control

the methods used to regulate behaviour of individuals and ensure conformity of norms

social solidarity

the feeling of unity that binds people in society together

economic

meeting the needs of the economy and providing specialist skills

transmitting norms and values

secondary socialisation

social selection

the most talented get the best jobs

how does education fulfil functions of society

• integrate young people into society

• integrate young people into their roles as workers

• transmit norms and values

• meet economic needs of society

• select and allocate roles

how are young people integrated into their roles as loyal adult citizens

• subjects in school

• ‘hidden curriculum’ teaches students to be obedient

how are young people intergrated into their roles as workers

• student qualifications similar to work eg wages and promotions (correspondence theory)

how do they meet economic needs of society

• create a literate hardworking work force

• done through national curriculum

• disciplinary systems within schools

how do they select and allocate roles

• roles are based on ability

• most qualified people get most important jobs

durkheim

• transmission of norms and values

• teach specialist skills to meet needs of economy

transmission of norms and values- durkheim

• social life would be impossible without social solidarity

• involves commitment to society and a sense of belonging

• oath of allegiance, symbol of american society

parsons

• key socialisation agency ( secondary socialisation)

• meritocracy

• particularistic standards vs universalistic standards

meritocracy- parsons

• education system acts as a bridge between ascribed status and your achieved status

• offers equality of opportunity

particularistic standards-parsons

judged and treated based on being an individual

universalistic standards

rules and values apply equally to members of society

hargreaves

• schools place too much emphasis on development of individual and not on duties and responsibilities

• fail to produce sense of dignity for working class pupils- they will rebel if they do not succeed and subcultures will be formed which reject norms and values

davis and moore

• role allocation

role allocation - davis and moore

• education selects talented individuals and allocates them to most important roles in society

• high rewarding jobs encourage competition

criticisms

• there isn’t a single set of values being transmitted

• who benefits from values being transmitted- marxists

• meritocracy is a myth eg working class and minroities underachieve

• meritocracy is a myth due to teachers expectations, labelling and self-fulfiling prophecy- interactionists

• education is a system of social reproduction-marxists

• relationship between academics and salaries is not close eg footballers