Functionalist perspective of education.

Overall functionalist view of education?

• The education system is part of Durkheim’s organic analogy - it is indispensable to society.

• It has a positive function for individuals and society.

What are educations main functions, according to Durkheim?

1. It helps to create integration and social solidarity in society.

   • because pupils in schools are integrated into a wider society beyond the family , so feel committed to this society

   • Schools act as a ‘mini society’ to prepare us for wider society (eg, rules and punishments, competition, authority)

2. It transmits specialist skills

   • pupils learn skills that are required for the workplace and economy (eg. Literacy and numeracy, teamwork, communication, respect for authority)

What are educations main functions, according to parsons?

• it is an agency of secondary socialisation and acts as a bridge between family and wider society

Why? The bridge is needed because the family ans society operate differently and children need to be prepared for adult roles.

The family operates on particularistic standards - being treated as an important individual who is unique and judged on personal qualities. Childs status is ascribed in the family.

Society operates on universalistic standards - being treated equally to others and judged against the same standards, individuals are not special but are competitors. A person must work hard to achieve their status in society.

The schoool - acts as a transitional bridge, based on meritocratic principles to get pupils ready for society. All pupils are treated equally and judged in the same way and have to achieve success through individual effort.

What are educations main functions, according to Dave’s and Moore?

They believe that inequality in society is necessary as it’s fair and works for society:

1. The education system provides a meritocracy (rewards for effort and ability)

2. It is a device for role allocation

   • the education system sifts and sorts based on ability - each person is allocated to the role that is best suited to their abilities.

Evaluation of the functionalist perspective of education.

Strengths

• evidence supports that schools do promote a sense of belonging in society to encourage a value consensus (eg. British flag, American flag allegiance)

• Schools have a significant economic function in preparing individuals for the workplace.

Limitations

• postmodernists would argue that there is no unified culture - Durkheim is too idealistic

• Postmodernists question how adequately pupils are prepared for the workplace (eg. Shortage of STEM grads, and killing if creativity leads to a lack of creative industries.