role of education

• What does the topic illustrate about education?

  There are winners and losers in education
• What is one way the education system treats pupils fairly?

  By providing equal access to resources
• What is one skill learned in school that aids in working life?

  Time management skills
• What should students know after reading this topic?

  • Functions of education identified by functionalists
  • Neoliberal and New Right views on education
  • Marxist views on class inequality in education
  • Evaluation of different educational perspectives
• What do sociologists study regarding education's role in society?

  They study equality of opportunities and social class inequalities
• What are the three main sociological perspectives on education?

  Functionalism, Neoliberalism, and Marxism
• What does functionalism view society as?

  A system of interdependent parts with shared values
• Who is the founder of functionalist sociology?

  Émile Durkheim
• What are the two main functions of education according to Durkheim?

  Creating social solidarity and teaching specialist skills
• How does education create social solidarity?

  By transmitting culture and shared values
• What does Durkheim mean by 'society in miniature'?

  School prepares individuals for wider society
• What is the role of specialist skills in education?

  To prepare individuals for the division of labour
• How does Parsons describe the school in society?

  As the 'focal socialising agency'
• What is the difference between particularistic and universalistic standards?

  Particularistic standards apply to individuals; universalistic apply to all
• What does meritocracy mean in education?

  Equal opportunity based on effort and ability
• Who proposed the concept of role allocation in education?

  Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore
• What is the purpose of assessing individuals' aptitudes in schools?

  To match them to suitable job roles
• What are some challenges in investigating meritocracy in education?

  Schools may hide discriminatory practices
• What do Blau and Duncan argue about human capital?

  It depends on workers' skills for economic prosperity
• What are some criticisms of the functionalist perspective on education?

  • Education does not adequately teach specialized skills
  • Evidence shows unequal opportunities exist
  • Circular argument in role allocation
  • Overlooks class conflict perspectives
• What does the Wolf Review of vocational education claim?

  High-quality apprenticeships are rare
• What is a limitation of using official statistics in education research?

  They may not directly relate to meritocracy
• What is a strength of using official statistics in education research?

  They provide a wealth of data for analysis
• What is the main argument for inequality in education according to Davis and Moore?

  Inequality motivates talent to fill important roles
• How does education act as a proving ground for ability?

  It sifts and sorts individuals based on qualifications
• What do functionalists believe about the relationship between education and social roles?

  Education matches individuals to suitable job roles
• What is the significance of the term 'human capital' in education?

  It refers to the skills of the workforce
• What is a criticism of the functionalist view on education's role in society?

  It overlooks the impact of social class
• What do functionalists argue about the education system's values?

  It instills shared values of society
• What is one of the criticisms of the meritocratic system in education?

  It does not guarantee equal opportunities
• What do Functionalists value about education?

  It provides necessary functions for society
• How do the New Right view schools?

  Schools should focus on consumer choices
• What is the Marxist critique of the education system?

  It serves capitalism and fails working-class pupils
• What do Feminists argue about the education system?

  It produces gender inequalities
• What are the two main functions of education according to Durkheim?

  Social solidarity and specialist skills
• How does education create social solidarity according to Durkheim?

  By transmitting culture across generations
• What does Parsons argue about schools?

  They are meritocratic institutions
• What role does Parsons believe schools play in socialization?

  They act as a bridge to wider society
• What do Davis and Moore believe schools do?

  They allocate pupils to future work roles
• What are the two functions of the education system according to Althusser?

  Reproduction and legitimation of inequality