Parson's ideas

• The education system is the main agency of socialisation in modern society
• Education acts as a bridge between the family and society, and prepares the children for adult roles
• Children have ascribed status in families and are judges according to particularistic standards. In society status is achieved and people are judges according to universalistic standards that apply to everyone in the same way.
• The education system prepares children to enter wider society by treating everyone in terms of universalistic standards by operating on the basis of achieved status
• Schools, as an agency of socialisation, promote two key values

  • Achievement
  • Equality of opportunity
• What perspective was Parsons?


  Functionalist
• What research methods did Parsons use?


  Secondary sources
• Role allocation: education matches individuals to their future jobs based on talent
• In a meritocracy the most able teach the top jobs