THE FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION

• Durkheim - social solidarity and specialist skills. Social solidarity, meaning members must feel a sense of a community without it, Durkheim argues that social life would be impossible, due to individuals pursuing their own selfish desires
• Social solidarity in education = transmits beliefs and values through educational curriculum, school is society in miniature.
• specialist skills - Education teaches the skills, knowledge to perform their role.
• Parsons - meritocracy - he sees school as the 'focal socialising agency' acting as a bridge between the family and wider society, from particularistic ascribed status to achieved status
• Davis and Moore - Role allocation: see education as a device for selection and role allocation, focusing on the relationship between education and social inequality ( inequality is necessary to ensure the most important roles are filled by the most talented people - Human capital
• Evaluation of FUNCTIONALISTS PERSPECTIVE

  • Education system doesn't teach specialist skills as Durkheim claims, high quality apprenticeships are rare and a third don't lead to higher paid jobs/ education
  • Neoliberals and the new right argue that the state education system fails to prepare young people adequately for work