Marxist & Functionalist

• What are the main sociological explanations of the role/function/purpose of education and training?

  Functionalist and Marxist explanations
• How do Functionalists view the education system?

  They see it in positive terms, believing it benefits everyone in society and the economy
• What is the first role of education according to Functionalists?

  Socialisation, acting as a form of social control
• What does Parsons argue about the education system?

  It acts as an important agency of secondary socialisation
• What is secondary socialisation?

  The process of learning the culture of a society outside of the family
• How does the education system integrate individuals?

  By bonding them into groups through school teams and tutor groups
• What norms and values does education regulate according to Functionalists?

  Socially agreed norms and values
• How do students learn about a society's culture through education?

  By socialising into norms and values through the curriculum
• What is social solidarity?

  Togetherness that contributes to social order and stability
• Who claims that the education system performs an important allocation role?

  Davis and Moore
• What is the basis of the allocation role in education according to Davis and Moore?

  It is meritocratic and based on examination results
• What opportunities does the education system provide according to Functionalists?

  Opportunities for social mobility
• What role does Schultz argue the education system performs?

  Transferring vocational skills
• How does vocational training facilitate economic growth?

  By providing skilled workers who can use modern production technology
• What is an example of vocational training mentioned in the study material?

  Apprenticeships
• What do Functionalists stress about new vocational education training initiatives?

  They stress the benefits of job-specific knowledge and skills
• What is a criticism of Functionalist views on socialisation?

  They assume there is value consensus over norms and values
• What do Marxists argue about the norms and values learned in education?

  They are ruling class ideologies
• What do Bowles and Gintis claim about the hidden curriculum?

  It socially controls and reproduces an unequal capitalist class-based economy
• What is the correspondence principal according to Bowles and Gintis?


  Schools and capitalist workplaces are organized similarly
• What are examples of the correspondence principal?

  Hierarchies, working for extrinsic rewards, and fragmentation
• What does the hidden curriculum create according to Marxists?

  False class consciousness
• How do Bowles and Gintis view role allocation?

  It is based on social class, not meritocracy
• What do Marxists argue about the legitimacy of economic/class inequalities?

  Education creates the belief that allocation is fair and meritocratic
• What do contemporary Marxists argue about marketisation policies?

  They reproduce and legitimate class inequalities
• What does Althusser argue about the education system?

  It is part of the ideological state apparatus that controls people's beliefs
• How does education reproduce class inequality according to Althusser?

  By failing working-class students and ensuring they end up in working-class jobs
• What do Marxists believe about vocational education?

  It serves the needs of capitalism, not individual students
• What do Marxists argue about vocational qualifications like BTECs?

  They are stigmatized as being for non-academic students
• How do modern apprenticeships function according to Marxists?

  As a source of cheap labor and often exploit trainees
• What is a criticism of Marxist views on socialisation?

  Many schools do not successfully instil attitudes like punctuality and obedience
• What evidence do critics provide against Marxist views on role allocation?

  They suggest society is becoming more open and meritocratic
• What do critics argue about Marxist views on vocational training?

  They underestimate the vocational training roles of schools
• How do Functionalists view vocational training compared to Marxists?

  Functionalists stress its role in creating a skilled workforce, while Marxists see it as limited
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Functionalist explanations of education?

  Strengths:

  • Emphasizes social cohesion and stability
  • Highlights the importance of socialisation and role allocation

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Assumes value consensus exists
  • Overlooks the impact of social class on educational success
  • Ignores issues of deskilling and outdated skills
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Marxist explanations of education?

  Strengths:

  • Critiques the reproduction of class inequalities
  • Highlights the role of the hidden curriculum

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Overgeneralizes the impact of socialisation
  • Ignores evidence of increasing social mobility
  • Underestimates the vocational training roles of schools