Topic 5- the role of education

• What does Durkheim say about the role of education in Functionalism?

  Durkheim identifies two main functions of education: social solidarity and specialist skills. The education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society's culture from one generation to the next. Schools also act as a 'society in miniature' preparing us for life in wider society
• What does Parsons say about the role of education in Functionalism?

  Parsons argues schools are meritocratic. This is the belief that all pupils have a chance to succeed through talent and abilities, irrespective of class, gender and ethnicity etc
• What do Davis and Moore say about the role of education in Functionalism?

  Davis and Moore believe that schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles by assessing individuals aptitudes and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to
• What does Althusser say about the role of education in Marxism?

  The education system performs two functions for the ideological state apparatus:

  • Reproduction- the education system reproduces class inequality by failing each generation of working class pupils
  • Legitimation- the education system tries to convince people that inequality is inevitable and failure is the fault of the individual, not the capitalist system
• What do Bowles and Gintis say about the role of education in Marxism?

  Schools create the new generations of workers to serve the capitalist system. There is a hidden curriculum in schools (lessons are learned but not taught), which is used to serve the capitalist system (e.g. pupils accept hierarchy, competition and alienation). The functionalist idea of meritocracy is a myth, success is based on background, not ability or educational achievement
• What does Willis say about the role of education in Marxism?

  Pupils can see through the ruling class ideology and resist attempts to indoctrinate in school. Male working class pupils formed a distinct counterculture that flouted school rules
• What do liberal feminists say about the role of education in Feminism?

  There has been a steady improvement in girls experience of school and girls achievement
• What do radical feminists say about the role of education in Feminism?

  Radical feminists believe that one of the primary roles of education is to maintain gender inequality. 

  Gendered Language - school teachers and textbooks use gendered language 

  Gendered roles - textbooks present traditional gendered roles (for example, women as housewives)

  Gendered stereotypes - textbooks and teachers tend to stereotypes males and females (for example, girls are presented as more caring)
• What do the new right say about the role of education?

  The new right believe schools should be centred around competition and choice, this is mainly done through marketisation. By creating an 'education market', schools are forced to respond to the needs of teachers, parents and pupils
• What do Chubb and Moe say about the role of education in the New Right?

  State education has failed to create equal opportunity because it does not have to respond to pupils needs. Parents and communities cannot do anything about failing schools when the schools are controlled by the state. Private schools deliver higher quality education because they are answerable to paying consumers (parents)