Parsons

What does Parsons believe the 2 main functions of education are?

Socialisation and role allocation

What does Parsons believe is a bridge between family and wider society?

Education

What does this bridge between family and wider society do?

Socialising children to adapt to a meritocratic view of education

What does Parsons believe education produces?

A value consensus and ensures that members of society adhere to the same basic goals

What does Parsons compare school to?

Society in miniature

What does Parsons believe school does?

Prepares people for the demands and expectations of society

What order does Parsons believe people should go through in life?

Home, education and then wider society

What does Parsons state the home has?

Particularistic values and an ascribed status

What does Parsons state education is?

Introduces individuals to new attitudes, expectations and rules

What does Parsons state society has?

Universal values and an achieved status

What does Parsons say about going from the home to wider society?

It is dangerous and dysfunctional

What does Parsons state about the education system?

It is an important mechanism for the selection of individuals and their future roles in society

How does Parsons say the mechanism of education system is achieved?

School testing and evaluating students skills, talents and capacities to the jobs for which they are best suited for in a meritocratic society

AO3 - Parsons fails to acknowledge that the values transmitted through the education system may be…

Benefiting a ruling minority rather than society as a whole

AO3 - Parsons view on education working on meritocratic principles is open to question

Because it ignores differences in social class, gender and ethnicity

AO3 - Bowles and Gintis argues

Meritocracy is a myth designed to make the working class work and class is the biggest indicator of success rather than ability