Durkheim saw the major function of education as the transmission of society’s norms and values.
He argued that schools were essential for ‘imprinting’ shared social values into the minds of children.
Durkheim argued the education system provides what he terms secondary socialisation as opposed to the primary socialisation which is delivered by the family.
While the family passes on particular norms and values, the secondary socialisation passes on universal norms and values that are shared by broader society.
Functionalists believe that all members of society are socialised into these norms and values, first through the family and then through institutions such as education, the media and religion.
