Functionalist,marxist,new right and the roles of education

• Durkheim (1903)


  Believes that there are two important functions the education system performs.
• One important role function of education

  creating social solidarity - refers to a sense of unity in society which is important for society to function well.

  • According to Durkheim individuals have a homo-duplex nature, which is the idea that people are naturally selfish, but taught morality. Additionally education plays a key role of preventing anomie. This is achieved by teaching subjects such as history to give students a sense of shared heritage and belonging in society.
• The second important function that education performs

  Teaching specialists skills-

  Durkheim believes education leads to students developing specialist skills to successfully ’play their part’ in the labour market.
• Parsons - meritocracy 


  According to parsons (1961) Education prepares individuals for the wider society and a society that is meritocrac, acting as a bridge between the family and the wider society. This is because the family individuals and judged by their standards and in the wider society are judged by universalistic standards.

  • Some may argue that the education system is meritocratic as students are taught the same syllabus, given the same materials and Sit the same exam. This prepares them for the wider society as everyone has the same standard.
• Society must ensure that important positions are given to talented and skilled individuals
• Talented and skilled individuals need to be offered high rewards
• Stratification motivates students at all levels to work hard
• Many people believe that society is meritocratic
• Inequality is necessary to ensure that all roles are performed within the labour market
• Functionalists believe that inequality is not viewed as unfair
• Functionalists believe that the most skilled and talented will gain high status
• Functionalists believe that even poverty has a function in society
• Role allocation

  Education performs the role of allocating students to their future work roles
• Functionalists believe that stratification is important
• Criticisms of functionalism and the role of education

  Traditional marxists - They would challenge parsons view that is education creates societies norms and values and believes that education shares the norms and values of the ruling class. Therefore, the education system creates class inequality and meritocracy is a myth.

  • Turmin (1953) criticizes the role allocation and argues for example, how do you know if a job is important, because it‘s highly rewarded?