Functionalist view of role of education

What do functionalists believe about the role of education?

• Education is based on a meritocracy - everyone has equal opportunity and are rewarded with good grades and good jobs if they work hard.

• Hidden curriculum plays a positive role, readying pupils to work.

Who are the functionalist sociologists that talk about this?

Parsons and Davis & Moore

What did Parsons say?

Education acts as a social bridge between the family and the workplace.

What did Davis & Moore say?

Role Allocation theory: schools sort and select those pupils most appropriate for certain roles.

E.g. teachers focus on those most suited and focused on their subject.

Weaknesses of this functionalist view

• There are unequal differences in achievement of different groups. Not a meritocracy.

• Marxists argue education works in interests of the rich.

• Feminists question the functionality of schools.