Functionalist perspective on on education

• Functionalist perspective on education


  Sees the education system as an important institution in society to help pass on social solidarity and cohesion, maintaining stability through effective socialisation into the norms and values of society
• Purpose of education (Functionalist view)

  • Prepare young people for adulthood and working life
  • Offer social mobility and equal chance of success
• How education achieves its purpose (Functionalist view)

  1. Passing on society's cultural-functional prerequisites

  2. Building social solidarity (Durkheim)

  3. Encouraging the hidden curriculum
• Hidden curriculum


  Socialisation into norms and values such as listening to teachers, following school rules, reflecting laws
• Students learn to accept society's social controls while they are in the education system
• Durkheim's view of schools


  • Schools are 'society in miniature'
  • School rules are like laws
  • Hierarchy in schools
  • Timetable of days
  • Uniform
• Sanctions


  Exam grades, promotions at work
• Durkheim and Parsons saw the education system as an important institution in society to help pass on social solidarity and cohesion, maintaining stability through effective socialisation
• Passing on Society's Culture

  Functional prerequisite
• Building Social Solidarity (Durkheim)


  Through the hidden curriculum
• Socialisation


  1. Norms

  2. Values

  3. Listening to teachers

  4. Following school rules

  5. Being outside at break

  6. Reflecting laws

  7. Accepting society's social controls
• Schools


  Society in miniature
• School rules


  • Like laws
  • Hierarchy
  • Time of days
  • Uniform
• Sanctions


  Rewards like exam grades, promotions, at work
• Functionalist perspective on education

  • Durkheim and Parsons saw the education system as an important institution in society to help pass on social solidarity and cohesion, maintaining stability through effective socialisation into the norms and values of society
  • It's important to prepare young people for adulthood and working life
  • Offers social mobility and a chance of success
• Functionalists believe that the purpose of schooling is to prepare individuals for their future roles in society.