Functionalist On Role Of Education

Front 1

What is the main functionalist perspective on the role of education?

Back 1

Functionalists believe that every institution in society performs one or more functions or jobs that will help maintain society.

They look for the positive benefits and functions that education performs for all societies.

Hint 1

Important and positive functions or jobs

Front 2

Who are the 3 functionalists that have an important perspective of the role of education?

Back 2

Durkheim
Parsons
Davis and Moore

Hint 2

P DD

Front 3

What was Durkheim's perspective on the role of education?

Back 3

1. He saw the main role of education was the transmission of societies shared norms and values from one generation to the next.
e.g history, people learn about their culture and develop a sense of commitment to it.

2. Individuals learn to follow a fixed set of rules and interact with people that are not their close family and friends. This helps them to prepare for later life when they have to get on with others and adhere to rules in society.

Hint 3

Prepare for future, shared norms and values

Front 4

What was Parsons perspective on the role of education?

Back 4

He draws on many of Durkheim's ideas. He believe education has 3 main functions: ✔️ It is a bridge between the family and wider society
✔️ it socialises children into the basic values of society
✔️ it selects people for their future roles in society

In the family, the child is judged within particularistic standards: rules that apply only to that particular child. Also, the child's status is ascribed e.g certain rights or duties are given to a certain age or sex. However, in society as a whole, universalistic standards are used in which people are judged according to standards that apply equally to everyone. Also, status is achieved and not ascribed. For example in school, the amount of effort you put in your work contributes to whether you pass fail, and also in work, where you earn promotions.

Hint 4

3 functions, Particularistic standards, universalistic standards, ascribed status, achieved status

Front 5

What are Davis and Moore's perspective on the role of education?

Back 5

They view education as a system of role allocation, but focus on the relationship of social inequality and education.
Education 'sifts and sorts' people according to their ability so that the most able gain high qualifications and can progress into doing the most functionally important jobs in society.
Education is seen as meritocratic; people are judged according to their ability and effort, not who they are.

Hint 5

Ability, effort, meritocratic, role allocation