functionalism

• Durkheim saw a major function of the education system as the transmission of societys norms and values
• Durkheim argues that society needs a sense of solidarity; it needs members to feel themselves to be part of a community or something bigger than themselves

  he argues that without social solidarity, social life and cooperation would be impossible because each individual would persue selfish desires
• the education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society's culture from one generation to the next
• for social solidarity to be successful, each individual must have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their role

  durkheim argues that one function of education is to prepare individuals to take their place in the division of labour
• durkheim evaluation:

  • the new right argue that the education system isnt always effective in creating skilled workers
  • the wolf review of vocational education suggested that high quality vocational courses are rare and 1/3 of apprenticeships will not lead to good jobs or higher education
  • marxists see vocational qualifications as reproducing social class
  • durkheim assumes that the norms and values transmitted are shared by everyone; Marx argues that norms and values are that of the ruling class
• meritocracy: everyone has an equal chance of success and individuals rewards and status are achieved by their own efforts rather than by ascribed standards
• Talcott Parsons believes that primary socialisation in the family is taken over by socialisation in education.

  school becomes the focal socialisation agency acting as a bridge between the family and wider society
• school as a focalising agency:

  • particuaristic standards: parents use rules and standards that only apply to only that particular child. In the family you have an ascribed status
  • universalistic standards: these are standards and rules that apply to all people. in wider society, you have an achieved status.
  • education is the bridge between the two where individuals are socialised into these universalistic standards which will apply them to wider society
• parsons argues that school also performs the function of selecting and allocating people to their future roles

  davis and moore see education as a device for selection and role allocation

  inequality is necessary to supply the most talented people to the most important jobs

  society offers higher rewards for the jobs that require more talent. this encourages people to compete for jobs and this ensures the best people get the more specialised jobs

  school 'sifts and sorts us'