Education

• what is the consensus view on the role of education?


  This view sees education as playing a positive role for all members of society.Education system perfomes useful functions for society as a whole.This includes the functionalist view of education
• What was Halsey's research on class-based inequalities in education?

  In 1980 middle class boys were 11 times more likely to go to university than working class due to home encouragement and parental attitudes
• What is meant by the feminisation of schools?

  Schools have become more favourable to girls.

  Sociologists claim lessons are taught from a feminine perspective,using methods suited to girls than boys.

  This can socialise boyus into believing learning is 'for girls' due to lack of male role models in school
• How does the crisis of masculinity explain the difference in attainment by gender?

  Men losing their traditional roles and authority and unsure of their identity.

  Since 1970s there has been a rise in male unemployment.Men are no longer percieved as the 'sole breadwinner' in the family
• What conflict view on the role of education?

  Society is made in dfferent groups who are in opposition to eachother and have competing interests

  Education system benefits one group in society

  Includes the marxist and feminist theory of education
• What is the functionalist theory of education?

  School serves a useful function in promoting value consensus.

  Students are socialised into the same values and goals,helps them work together in later life for the good of society

  For example the work of Durkheim on social cohesion and the work of parsons on education working on meritocratic principles
• What is meant by education serving the needs of the economy?

  Education system prepares students for work,ensuring a supply of skilled workers to benefit society
• What is meant education facilitating social mobility?

  School provides students with opportunities to move up or down the social class system
• What is meant by education fostering social cohesion?

  School teaches a shared set of norms and values

  Encourages strengthening of bonds and level of agreement between members of society,creating a 'togetherness'
• What is meant by education transmitting norms and values?

  Education acts as an agent of secondary socialisation by teaching students expected behaviours of British culture
• What is meant by meritocracy?

  Fair society that rewards the most able and hard working with high income,wealth and status.

  Everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed
• What is Emile Durkheim's theory of education?


  Functionalist view

  Education serves the needs of society by transmitting society's norms and values

  this can lead to social cohesion
• What is Talcott Parsons theory of education?

  Functionalist view

  Education is meritocratic as it's based on achieved values

  This is fair and rewards those based on their effort and ability

  Education fulfills the function of role allocation by selecting individuals for their future jobs or roles in society based on their achievement
• What is the marxist theory of education?

  Schools maintain inequality in society

  Ruling class have the same cultural capital as schools therefore children from those classes succeed and working class fail

  For example the work of Bowles and Ginitis on correspondence theory