Parsons

• Education system


  • The main agency of socialisation in modern society
  • Acts as the bridge between the family and society
  • Prepares children for their adult roles
• Ascribed status


  Status in families, judged according to particularistic standards
• Achieved status


  Status in society, judged according to universalistic standards that apply to everyone in the same way
• Education system


  • Prepares children to enter the wider society by treating everyone in terms of universalistic standards
  • Operates on the basis of achieved status
• Schools as an agency of socialisation


  • Promote achievement and equality of opportunity
  • These values are important in the wider society
• Advanced industrial societies


  • Need a system of rewarding people differently based on their achievement
  • People accept this reward system as fair, so long as there are equal opportunities
• Role allocation


  • The education system matches individuals to their future jobs and status in society, based on their talents and abilities
  • In a meritocracy, the most able reach the top jobs