education

• what are the economic and selective roles of education?


  Functionalists perspectives examine institutions in terms of the positive role they play in society as a whole.

  Marxists perspectives examine society in terms of the struggle between powerful and less powerful groups.
• What is the economic role of education according to Functionalists?

  Teaching skills and knowledge for work
• How do vocational courses function in education?

  They train young people for the workforce
• What does education prepare young people for, according to Functionalists?

  Future occupational roles
• How does education benefit the economy, according to Functionalists?

  By preparing skilled workers for jobs
• How do Marxists view the role of education in society?

  As reinforcing the class system
• What skills do children from less powerful classes learn according to Marxists?

  Skills for lower-status occupations
• What qualifications do children from more powerful classes gain according to Marxists?

  Qualifications for higher-status occupations
• What are the key differences in the views of Functionalists and Marxists on education's economic role?

  Functionalists:

  • Teach skills for work
  • Prepare for future occupational roles
  • Benefit the economy

  
  

  Marxists:

  • Reinforce the class system
  • Teach skills for lower-status jobs to less powerful classes
  • Provide qualifications for higher-status jobs to more powerful classes
• the selective roles - choosing the most able people for the most important jobs- functionalists

  Functionalists see the education system as a sieve, grading students according to their ability and placing individuals in occupational roles best suited to their talents and abilities. this process is based on the functionalist belief that all individuals have equal opportunities in their school career. high qualifications = higher pay levels and status in society. this is known as a meritocratic system.
• Who criticizes the education system for not being meritocratic?

  Marxists
• Why do Marxists believe the education system is not meritocratic?

  It favours those with wealthier backgrounds
• How does the education system perpetuate inequality between social classes?

  By favouring wealthier backgrounds
• What advantage do middle-class families have regarding education?

  They can afford private schools
• How do private schools affect working-class pupils?

  They create an advantage for middle-class pupils
• Why are middle-class parents more effective in navigating the education system?

  They tend to be better educated
• What geographical advantage do middle-class families have regarding schools?

  They often live near good schools
• What is the age at which pupils enter state secondary schools?

  Age eleven
• What is the correlation between social class and academic achievement?

  Wealthy backgrounds lead to higher success
• How do financial supports differ for university students from different social classes?

  Middle-class students receive parental support
• What do many working-class students rely on to finance their studies?

  Student loans or part-time jobs
• What is the outcome for students from wealthy backgrounds in terms of academic success?

  They are more likely to succeed academically
• What is the impact of social class on access to university?

  Wealthy students have better access
• What factors contribute to the academic success of middle-class students?

  Private schooling, parental support, and proximity to good schools
• What do middle-class students often receive that aids their education?

  Financial support from their parents
• social control - teaching acceptance of rules and authority

  
  

  Formal:

  • discipline
  • punishments
  • school rules

  Informal:

  • through general school life
  • learning to live and work with others
• social control - teaching acceptance of rules and authority- functionalists

  Functionalists argue that for society to run smoothly there must be some means of regulating people's behaviour and activities. schools act as an agent of social control by teaching rules such as obedience and punctuality.
• social control - teaching acceptance of rules and authority - marxists

  for Marxists, social control in schools and colleges is seen as reflecting social control in the wider society, which benefits those groups in power.
• the political roles - teaching people to be effective citizens and creating social cohesion


  the development of citizenship as a subject in schools has been linked to the belief that is important to create social cohesion in society. this relates to the idea that education has a role in teaching the norms and values of British culture, as well as helping individuals to identity themselves as part of that wider culture.
• emile durkheim - social solidarity

  he argued that in order to function, societies must be able to ensure that all their members are united together behind a shared set of values. this creates social solidarity where the individual sees themselves as part of the wider community
• emile durkheim - society in miniture

  schools prepare us for the wider society where we have to cooperate with people who are neither family nor friends.
• emile durkheim - skills for work

  in complex industrial societies the production of goods and services involves cooperation between a number of different specialists. this cooperation promotes social solidarity, but also requires individuals to have developed specialised skills.
• criticisms of durkheim

  • marxists would argue that the culture being transmitted through the education system is one that benefits the ruling class and not society as a whole.
  • feminist would argue that the culture being transmitted is patriarchal, or male dominated.
• why are independent schools favoured by some?

  • generally have a lower teacher-student ratio than state school, which means that classes are smaller and students receive more attention from the teacher.
  • resources and facilities are often better.
  • parental input is high in terms of fees, support and expectations.
• why are state schools favoured by others?

  • state schools are free
  • more socially mixed
  • students do not have to travel as far
• how has marketisation influenced education?

  • parents should be able to choose the type of school they prefer for their children
  • schools must now produce a prospectus and hold open days
  • league tables are published showing exam results and national curriculum test results
  • businesses can sponsor schools
  • open enrollment has been introduced
  • there is a wider range of types of school for parents to choose from
  • formula funding means schools are funded based on the numbers of students they attract
  • the rise of parentocracy (rule by parents)
• how can material factors affect achievement?

  • the child poverty action group has stressed the costs of school uniforms, sports kits and special materials
  • living conditions (likely to apply to the working class)
  • many working-class areas, especially in inner cities, may lack pre-school facilities, such as nurseries and playgroups.
• the role of cultural deprivation

  working-class children and those from some ethnic minority groups may suffer as a result of cultural deprivation.

  it is suggested that schools are based on White middle-class values and assumptions and therefore White middle-class culture dominates.