Parsons

• Functionalist perspective
• Education is a bridge between family and society
• Schools are meritocratic and help to select individuals for their future role in society
• Parsons argued that the family has particularistic standards, which is where people are seen and judged as individuals. School introduces children to universalistic standards where everyone's behaviour is judged the same way; like society. Parsons argued that society acts like a bridge, which takes children from primary socialisation and being judged on a particularistic basis, to secondary socialisation and being judged on a universalistic basis. This gets children ready for entering the wider society. 
• Schools continue the socialisation process of teaching the norms and values of society. In families status is fixed at birth (ascribed status) but society is based on merit and achieved status instead of ascribed status.
• Parsons developed Durkheim's ideas further. His theory also aligns with Durkheim’s ideas of school being like a ‘society in miniature’.
• It shows how all of the functions in society work together to make a bridge from the home/school to wider society, Also how the education system has a wider impact on both society and the individual.
• It can be seen as outdated as the education system has changed over time and it ignores the conflicts that society has that can be caused by a poor education.