1.1 - Education and Society

• What was the Fisher Education Act?

  • 1918
  • made secondary education compulsory regardless of age, gender and class
• What is the functionalist view towards education?

  1. Socialisation
  2. Skills Provision
  3. Role Allocation
• What is the role of socialisation?

  • Durkheim believes education helps students to be socialised into the norms and values needed to function in society
  • also helps with competition, equality, religion, democracy and social solidarity
  • Durkheim was concerned that society was INDIVIDUALISTIC and education helps to promote a collectivist society.
• What is the role of skills provision?

  • education teaches skills needed to dominate society/workplace
  • these are numeracy, literacy skills
  • believe in the human capital theory - if we invest in humans via education, then they will be hardworking and help society become economically better and produce more wealth
• What is the role of role allocation?

  • Functionalists Davis and Moore believe education helps allocate specific roles to students.
  • this is done through the different qualifications and grades they achieve.
  • helps us identify which students work harder for harder jobs such as doctors
  • myth of meritocracy - if you work hard, you can achieve high
• What are the criticisms of the functionalist theory towards education?

  • fails to socialise all - some students come out of education, with a lack of manners
  • skills provision criticised - some believe the skills taught in education do not help with the workplace. e.g - vocational subjects/BTECS
  • myth of meritocracy - ignores gender, ethnicity and class. Assumes that education is equal for all
  • not applicable to multicultural societies - assumes education is equal, individualistic
• What is the Marxist approach to education>

  1 - Reproduces inequalities - trains w/c pupils with skills for w/c jobs

  2 - Done through by myth of meritocracy - tells students they can achieve higher class jobs if they work hard
• What does Althusser say about education?

  • says education takes control via RSA and ISA
  • Ideological state apparatus - instituions that spread inequalities
  • Repressive state apparaus - forceful/coecive power such as police and army.
• What does Bourdieu say about education?

  • says that the w/c are at a disadvantage as the curriculum in school is mainly based on middle class culture
• What is the correspondence theory?

  • bowles and gintis
  • work corresponds with education
  • hidden curriculum - socialises pupils into jobs/society without them realising
• What are the criticisms of the marxist approach to education?

  • focuses on class inequalities rather than gender/ethnicity
  • criticised for saying education corresponds with work and that workplace requires teamwork now
  • some people reject the curriculum and hidden social norms and values
• What does Henry Giroux believe about education?

  • a neo marxist who believes some students reject the curriculm
  • Willis' study on the lads - those who were anti social in school created an anti school subculture (opposed exams, racist, traditional values)
  • first job - factory workers and still had anti work attitude
• What is the Social Democratic view towards education?

  • push for greater equality
  • assosciated with the labour party
  • would like to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • says that education is not equal for those from a working class. Believe that the gov should tax the rich to pay for equal state education
• What are the criticisms for social democratic views towards education?

  • neoliberals argue that equal education would lead to standards being lowered
  • if education is equal, students will not be able to show their full potential
  • feminists argue that they ignore gender inequality
• What is the neo liberal view towards education?

  • in favour of private education
  • needed for a successful economy
  • say that state education have low standards however private education has to please its customers so therefore have high standards.
  • students achieve high grades which is good for the economy
• What are the criticisms of neo liberal views towards education?

  • criticised by marxists and feminists
  • say that private educaion puts the needs of the school before the needs of the children
  • results in an unequal society
• What is the postmodernist view towards education?

  • believe in diversity in education and people should have their own choice in what they learn
  • shown through adult education - adults 'pick n mix' what they want to learn with when they want too
• What are the criticisms of the postmodernist view of education?

  • exaggerate the changes in education - the curriculum actually has more diversity in what students can pick
  • the budget for adult education has been cut
  • ignores education and how it is shaped by big businesses rather then individual learners