FUNCTIONALISM

• Functionalists talk about how society creates shared norms and values, therefore they tend to highlight the positive contributions that education offers.

  School promotes a consensus theory by socialising people in its norms and values
• SOCIAL SOLIDARITY:

  • Binding us together through the shared norms and values of society e.g through PSHE

  DURKHEIM - School plays a role in the process of secondary socialisation

  —> Fundamental for children to learn the shared norms and values of society (achieved by the hidden curriculum)
• SPECIALIST SKILLS:

  • Schools help and develop the skills and knowledge which is used in the real world

  DURKHEIM - each person must have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their role in the Complex Division of Labour

  —> Schools teach individuals the knowledge and skills needed to play their part in the social division of labour (through a variety of subjects e.g Science)
• ROLE ALLOCATION IN A MERITOCRATIC (fair and equal) SOCIETY:

  • The education system selects people for different levels of the job market, ensuring the most talented and qualified people have the most important jobs in society

  DAVIS AND MOORE - those who put in the effort has an equal chance of coming out ahead

  —> Equality of educational opportunity - those who don’t work hard will fail