Roles and Functions of Education- Functionalism

• Human Capital

  the stock of knowledge, habits, social and personality attributes, including creativity, embodied in the ability to perform labor so as to produce economic value.
• Hidden Curriculum

  The aspects of informal teaching done in schools that socialises children into the norms and values of society.
• Particularistic Values


  Values and Rules that only apply to a particular person in a given situation (e.g. Values of the Home)
• Universalistic Values


  Means Values and Rules that apply to all members of society equally.
• Durkheim (Socialisation and Social solidarity)


  - Socialisation: teaches children the importance of social norms and values for a well-functioning society (e.g. moral principles like what is right and wrong)

  -Social Solidarity: teaches children the core values of society by transmitting a shared culture
• Parsons (Bridge between family and society)


  Believed that schools provide a link between the particularistic values of the home and the universalistic values of the rest of society, teaches children to accept and abide by these norms and values.
• Schultz (Developing Human Capital)

  This suggests that investment in education benefits the wider economy. Education can provide a properly trained, qualified, and flexible workforce. They argue that education makes sure that the best and most qualified people end up in jobs that require the most skill.
• Davis and Moore (Role Allocation)


  Believe that the education system provides a means to select people into the social hierarchy. Functionalists believe education is meritocratic which means that they believe Jobs, Power, Wealth, and Status are all dependant on educational achievement.
• Evaluation of Functionalist views

  - Ignores aspects of education that are dysfunctional, such as negative conflict.

  - There is a weak link between educational achievement and economic success.
• Marxist Evaluation of Functionalist Views

  - 'Myth of Meritocracy': Bowles and Gintis

  Believe that the merits of education are not solely based on hard work and ability, but also on the social class of the student (e.g., middle-class students can attend private schools and afford private tutors)

  - Althusser argues that the Hidden Curriculum reproduces class inequalities and assists middle-class achievement and not working-class achievement.
• Wong's Evaluation of Functionalist Views


  -Functionalists see children as puppets for socialisation when in reality the process is a lot more complex and involves student/teacher relationships.
• Feminist Evaluation of Functionalist Views


  -Believe that the hidden curriculum maintains and reinforces patriarchy instead of meritocracy.