Lecture notes
Sociology - Education Notes (Full)
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- AQA
Education module of sociology covered in detail. Over 10,000 words and 38 pages long
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1Theories of Education
THE ROLE OF EDUCATION:
Comes from 3 main perspectives:
Functionalism
New Right
Marxism
EDUCATIONAL POLICY:
Can have 5 aims:
Selection
Marketisation
Compensatory
Privatisation
Globalisation
DIFFERENTIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
May be due to:
Social class
Gender
Ethnicity
PAPER 1:
Consists of:
4 marker
6 marker
10 mark (analyse)
30 mark (evaluate)
20 mark (methods in context)
10 mark explain (research methods)
THEORIES OF EDUCATION:
FUNCTIONALISM:
ORGANIC ANALOGY – Everything is codependent, social solidarity and value consensus are
indispensable
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4 MAIN ROLES:
Ensures a value consensus is transmitted, resulting in social solidarity
Provides a bridge between family and society
Creates a specialist labour force
Allocates people to job roles
1) How does education pass on value consensus? Provide examples
A) Value consensus is transmitted by the same subjects being taught, encompassing the group in
subjects such as history. Value consensus is also transmitted through the hidden curriculum
1) How does education create social solidarity with people we don’t know?
A) As we are put into classes and form groups with people we don’t know, are made to talk to
peers, work in pairs, and complete group work. We also learn how to behave in a way which
would be acceptable in wider society. In the formal curriculum, subjects such as history teach
about Nazi tyranny, equality, and respect.
MARXISM:
Marxists, however, would argue that these all create false class consciousness. To produce armadas of
obedient workers who will not challenge authority, and by summary, capitalism.
FEMINISM:
Feminists would argue this transmits patriarchal ideology, normalisation of sexual harassment, and
the male gaze.
POSTMODERNISM:
Would argue no value consensus is transmitted, individualism prevails and schools are fragmented.
PARSONS:
PARTICULARISTIC STANDARDS – Standards which are calculated based on the ascribed status of
that child
UNIVERSALISTIC STANDARDS – The way in which society treats individuals based on achieved
status
MERITOCRACY – Where jobs and pay are allocated based on someone’s abilities and qualifications
School rules and expectations help transmit universalistic standards.
However, there are different treatments of male and female students for the same behaviour.
, 3
FRANCIS: Discipline harsher for boys
TEACHER LABELLING: Middle class often labelled as ‘ideal pupils’, working class not labelled as
such
DAVIS, MOORE, DURKHEIM & THE SPECIALIST DIVISION OF LABOUR:
To produce a product on an industrial scale, numerous specialists are required.
Education helps to produce a specialist labour division by the fragmentation of subjects taught.
Education also teaches specialist skills.
DAVIS & MOORE – They argue that people with the best jobs should get the best jobs, as
examination through the education siphons out the best achievers
ORGANIC ANALOGY – As with the organic analogy, if an organ was to do another organ’s intended
job, the body would die. Davis and Moore argue thus is a similar affair with society in terms of jobs
4/6 MARK QUESTIONS:
1 mark: Bullet point initial point. How?
1 mark: Development/explanation of initial point in relation to the question. Why?
For a 4 marker do this TWICE.
For a 6 marker do this 3 TIMES.
1) Outline two ways in which education prepares young people for the workplace
A) Education teaches students specialist skills. Done via the formal curriculum, e.g. subjects may
require communication skills. This allows them to be effective workers and to do their job
properly. Functionalists also argue a value consensus is being transmitted. Education allocates
students to job roles by grading people through standardised exams, this identifies the most
able individuals and therefore channels them to the appropriate job roles.
1) Outline two ways which sociology helps maintain social stability and value consensus
A) All students have the same standards of behaviour which they have to follow, deviation from
this set of rules leads to sanctions, they’re treated according to universalistic standards
Another ways education prepares students is through the argument that school is a microcosm
of society, which teaches us how to cooperate and behave in an acceptable manner. All students
, 4
are treated by universalistic standards also, which also transmits value consensus and social
solidarity
THE NEW RIGHT THEORY OF EDUCATION:
Political perspectives are influential in sociology.
1980s CONSERVATIVE PARTY UNDER THATCHER:
Conservatism
Traditional values
Individual responsibility
Minimal state involvement
Free market
1) 3 ways in which the new right ideas of education are similar to the functionalists
They argue that a shared culture produces cohesion, similar to social solidarity and failure
consensus
They also argue people with the most skills and abilities get the top job roles
Preparation of work, transmission of specialist skills, leads to the specialist division of labour
1) What is the marketisation of education according to Chubb & Moe
A) Business principles: choice and competition. Schools would have to improve education to
attract students. Also argue state schools have in incentive to improve due to catchment areas.
Applying material from item A, analyse two ways in which education benefits the workplace.
P – “Education prepares students for the world of work”
E – Hidden and formal curriculum sets universalistic standards (Durkheim)
E – Workplace has standards , requires cooperation, social solidarity and value consensus
L – As education treats students by universalistic standards
A03 – A criticism is that the hidden curriculum may affect gender, social class and ethnicity
differently
P – “It helps filter individuals into the job they’re most suited for”
E – Meritocracy leads to fair role allocation, organic analogy. Davis & Moore
E – Most talented individuals receive the best jobs
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