Education - sociology

• Durkheim (functionalist):

  • Used to build social solidarity (all members being socialised into the same norm and values.)
  • Our secondary education
  • Ensures this social solidarity isn't lost
• Functionalists argue that schools are meritocratic, meaning they reward those who work hardest with qualifications which lead to better jobs and higher pay.
• Evalutation of Durkheim -

  • Marxists - question where this shared values come from and how they are instead a way for the RC to spread their ideology.
  • Hargreave - argued that the education system encourages individualism and competition rather than social solidarity and shared values.
• Educational attainment (how long someone is in education) has increased since the 1940s due to more people staying on in full time education and more women entering the labour market.
• Parson's:

  • At home children are given certain rules that only apply to a specific child (oldest has to walk the dog e.t.c) and their status is acribed (fixed by birth)
  • At school these standards are inpersonal and universal.
  • Status is also achieved.
  • Prepares us for the wider world
• Davis and moores -

  Seen as a device for selection and role accocation.

  Inequality is necessary to ensure the most important roles are filled by the most important people.

  Encourages competitiveness which sorts us into our abiliy.
• Similarities between new right and functionalists:

  • Both believe some people are more naurally talented than others
  • Both favour a meritocratic system which prepares the young for work.
  • Both believe they should socialise pupils into shared values.
• New right:

  • Don't believe the education system is achieveing these goals
  • Education system doens't listen to their consumers.

  Chubb -

  • Private schools should have higher quality education becuase they have paying consumers.
  • Believe we should introduce a market into schools as this would force schools to be more responsive to parents wishes
• What do new right theorists believe is the two roles of the state:

  • State imposes a framework that schools have to listen to (ofsted,league table)
  • Insures a shared culture (guaranteed that pupils are socilised the same.)
• Evalution of new right:

  • Marxist - Doesn't impose a shared culture but instead imposes the culture of the dominant class and devalues the culture of the WC.
  • The real cause of low educational standards is social inequality and inadequate funding
• What is a comprehensive school?

  A non - selective school that accepts students in the catchment area
• How does school prepare students for work

  • Repetitive - prepares students for the alienation of the workplace
  • Encouraging competitiveness and individualism - seen in work through promotions e.t.c
• What is the difference between the resctricted code and the elaborated code?

  Restricted code - Speech used by the WC. Limited vocabulary and includes short sentences.

  Elaborated code - Speech used by MC. Longer sentences and more complex.
• Why does these different codes effect education?

  Puts the MC at an advantage in school as it's the language used in textbooks/exams. WC are less likely to feel included and have to struggle to understand it.
• How does a parent's qualifications contribute to their child's eduaction?

  • Higher qualification = high expectations and more discipline - encouarges learning and exploring. More aware with what is needed to assist a child.
  • low qualifications = harsh discipline (do as your told) - leads to poorer motivation
• Critisms of cultural deprivation theory

  • Blames victims of their own failure
  • Argued that the WC are different not deprived. They fail because eduaction is dominated by MC values.
• What are some examples of material depriation?

  • Housing - overcrowding makes it harder to study,disturbed sleep from sharing a room. Damp housing = illness.
  • Diet and health - more likely to eat food bad for the body as it is cheaper,leads to bad imune system and low energy.
  • Finance - children miss out on equipment and experience that enhance achievement. - can result in bulling or failing behind. May need to work to help pay for things so affects school life.
• What is bourdieu's 3 type of capital?

  1. Cultural - sees MC culture as wealth as it gives an advantage to those who possess it. Can grasp ideas quicker.
  2. Economic - parents with economic capital can send their children to private schools and can pay for tuitons. Plus they can afford a house in the catchement areas.
  3. Social - MC more likely to have connections to people who can give their children opportunities.