This document includes over 10 Grade 9/Full Mark responses to GCSE AQA Sociology Exam Questions from the Education unit of Paper 1 in the GCSE. All of these answers can be applicable to almost any 12 mark exam question part of GCSE Sociology, and knowledge is also applicable to other exam boards. T...
● Discuss how far sociologists agree that the main function of the education system is
to serve the needs of the economy. [12 marks]
For many years sociologists have studied what the main function of the education system is
and what purpose it fulfils for society. Functionalists argue that the education system argue
that the education system provides the role of secondary socialisation, role allocation and
other functions they deem positive. Whereas marxist sociologists argue that the education
system is to serve the needs of the economy and is in favour of capitalism by reproducing
generations of workers. And the last argument would be that the education system
reproduces and stems patriarchal values, furthering gender equality.
One reason some sociologists agree that the main function of the education system is to
serve the needs of the economy is because it reinforces class inequality. Working class
pupils are prepared for boring repetitive labour, while middle class students are encouraged
to aspire to higher education to prepare them for higher status jobs and owning the means of
production. This is because students do not have control over what is taught in the
curriculum and simply follow tasks which are similar to work. This is the correspondence
principle identified by Bowles and Gintis, referring to the argument that school mirrors the
workplace. One example of this would be the dress code. Children in school have a uniform
they are obliged to follow similarly to the workplace, where they must wear professional and
formal work attire. Children are being prepared for their future of work therefore serving the
needs of the economy.
One reason some sociologists may disagree is because the education system provides roles
for the best suited people. According to Davis and Moore, role allocation means sifting and
sorting people into the appropriate job based on their talents,exam results and performance.
Schools function to allocate students into the right career paths through the process of
meritocracy. Meritocracy is when people's status and jobs are based on hard work, effort
and merit (a little like achieved status). Schools operate via meritocracy as every student sits
the same exam and has a fair chance to succeed. This is called universalistic standards
(treating everyone the same). This is different to pluralistic standards which only applies to
the family, where each family treats their children differently to another. Education therefore
functions to allocate pupils into their jobs fairly and allows the most talented people into the
higher status jobs. This results in social mobility: where through hard work via exam results
people can move into highest status roles. Therefore the education system's main function is
not to serve the economy.
Another reason some sociologists agree that the education system serves the economy is
due to the ‘myth of meritocracy.’ Marxism directly opposes the functionalist ideology of
meritocracy. The Education system is not based on universalistic standards and is not fair.
This is because your social class background can determine how well you do. For example a
child from a middle class background has the income and knowledge to help them in
achieving school by attending a fee paying private school or having additional tuition. This is
not based on meritocracy. Schools also have an "ethnocentric curriculum" which is based on
the ideology (viewpoint of m/c white people). Therefore the education system does serve the
needs of the economy,
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