Theories

• Main functionalist theory (f)

  Shared norms and values which enable society to function
• Who's theory is social solidarity (f)

  Durkheim
• What is social solidarity? (F)

  Individual members need to feel apart of a community
• What does Durkheim argue education teaches? (F)

  Specialist skills needed to play their part in division of labour
• Whose theory is meritocracy?

  Parsons (f)
• What is meritocracy?


  All people have same opportunities open to them - status achieved not ascribed at birth
• Davis and Moore theory (f)

  Role allocation - sifts and sorts depending on ability
• Main Marxist theory


  Capitalist exploitation - class conflict between capitalist and working class
• Althusser (m)


  2 apparatuses to maintain rule of bourgeoisie

  - ideological state apparatus by controlling beliefs eg religion etc

  -repressive state apparatus by force/threat eg police
• Who's theory is correspondence principle and hidden curriculum

  Bowles and Gintis (m)
• What is the correspondence principle and hidden curriculum?

  Educations 'mirrors' workplace eg hierarchy to reproduce obedient workforce that will accept inequality
• myth of meritocracy


  Bowles and gintis (m)

  Decorations system prevents working class from rebelling
• Main new right theory

  State cannot meet people's needs and that people are best left to meet their own needs through free market
• Chubb and Moe (NR)

  Consumer choice - run schools like businesses

  'Marketisation' to create competition