education

• functionalist view on education?


  education is based on meritocracy- its fair, if you work hard your rewarded

  the hidden curriculum plays a positive role, readying us for work
• what did parsons (functionalist) say about education?


  education acts like a bridge between the family and wider society this takes over as the main agent of socialisation
• what did David & Moore (functionalist) say about education?

  role allocation theory: schools sort and select pupils into appropriate roles after recognising talents. they argue this goes beyond schools and into careers
• what are criticisms of the functionalist views on education?


  the system isnt fair and there are clear inequalities in achievements suggesting school is not meritocratic

  marxists argue education works in favour of the rich

  feminists say education is a reflection of wider society and is patriarchal
• marxist view on education:

  • meritocracy is a myth- schools are rigged to benefit the middle and upper classes at the expense of the working class
  • the hidden curriculum plays a negative role, readying us for a capitalist workplace
• what did Bowles & Gintis (marxists) say about education?


  cultural capital puts middle class at an advantage that working class dont have- supports the idea that meritocracy is a myth
• what did willis (marxist) say about education?


  working class resistance to middle class values forms an anti-school subculture which leads to failure
• criticisms of the marxist view on education:

  • meritocracy isn't a complete myth otherwise only the middle class would succeed
• what is the feminist view on education?


  the education system maintains and justifies gender inequality and reflects a patriarchal society, gendered subjects
• what did Francis (feminist) say about education?

  schools reflect patriarchal society and boys dominate time and space in school
• criticisms of feminist view of education:

  • girls outperform boys
  • feminisation of schools
  • outdated studies
• what did Becker say?


  labelling theory: teachers label students according to their version of an ideal pupil and the middle class are seen as a more ideal pupil
• what did Ball find?


  top and bottom bands respond to being labelled as such and commence a self fulfilling prophecy, pupils in lower bands are more likely to be working class
• what did Willis (marxist) find?


  he observed that working class 'lads' had their own set of values e.g. being disruptive, disobedient
• what did hargreaves find?


  lower stream students who were negatively labelled by teachers turned to anti-school subcultures
• why were Willis' and Hargreaves' research criticised?


  they are outdated studies (60s & 70s)