Functionalism
In short Durkheim, identifies two main functions of education, social solidarity and
Functionalists value education because it specialists skills. The education system helps to create social solidarity by
provides necessary functions for the rest transmitting society’s culture from one generation to another. Schools act as a
of society. Similarly the New Right ‘society in miniature’ preparing us for life in wider society.
determine in order to fulfil such functions,
schools should be centred around the Parsons, argues schools are meritocratic. This is the belief that all pupils have
consumer and their choices. However an equal chance to succeed through talent and abilities irrespective of class,
Marxists criticise functionalists and the gender and ethnicity. Parsons sees the school as an agent of socialisation
New Right because the education system acting as a bridge between the family and wider society.
merely serves the needs for capitalism by
ensuring the failure of w/c pupils. Davis and Moore, believe schools perform the function of selecting and
Feminists also reject the education system allocation pupils to their future work roles by assessing individuals aptitudes
for producing gengender inequalities. and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to help
match with the job they are suited to.
Topic 5 The role of
The New Right, believe schools education Feminism
should be centred around Liberal feminism, there has been a steady
competition and choice, mainly done improvemnt in girls experience of school
through marketisation. By creating and girls achievement
an ‘education market’, schools are Marxism
forced to respond to the needs of Althusser, the education system performs two Radical feminism, there has not been
teachers parents and pupils. functions for the ideological state apparatus much change for girls in society, believe
- Reproduction, the education system that one of the primary roles in education
Chubb and Moe, state education has reproduces class inequality by failing each is to maintain gender inequality.
failed to create equal opportunity generation of w/c pupils - Gendered language, school
because it does not have to respond - Legitimation, the education system tries to teachers and textbooks use
to pupils needs. Parents and convince people that inequality is inevitable gendered languages
communities cannot do anything and failure is the fault of the individual not - Gendered roles, textbooks
about failing schools when the the capitalist society present traditional gendered
schools are controlled by the state. Bowles and gintis, schools create the new generation of roles eg women as housewives
Private schools deliver higher quality workers to serve the capitalist system. There is a - Gendered stereotypes, textbooks
education because they are hidden curriculum in schools which is used to serve the and teachers tend to stereotype
answerable to paying consumers. capitalist system. The functionalist idea of meritocracy males and female.
is a myth, success is based on class background not
ability or educational achievement
In short Durkheim, identifies two main functions of education, social solidarity and
Functionalists value education because it specialists skills. The education system helps to create social solidarity by
provides necessary functions for the rest transmitting society’s culture from one generation to another. Schools act as a
of society. Similarly the New Right ‘society in miniature’ preparing us for life in wider society.
determine in order to fulfil such functions,
schools should be centred around the Parsons, argues schools are meritocratic. This is the belief that all pupils have
consumer and their choices. However an equal chance to succeed through talent and abilities irrespective of class,
Marxists criticise functionalists and the gender and ethnicity. Parsons sees the school as an agent of socialisation
New Right because the education system acting as a bridge between the family and wider society.
merely serves the needs for capitalism by
ensuring the failure of w/c pupils. Davis and Moore, believe schools perform the function of selecting and
Feminists also reject the education system allocation pupils to their future work roles by assessing individuals aptitudes
for producing gengender inequalities. and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to help
match with the job they are suited to.
Topic 5 The role of
The New Right, believe schools education Feminism
should be centred around Liberal feminism, there has been a steady
competition and choice, mainly done improvemnt in girls experience of school
through marketisation. By creating and girls achievement
an ‘education market’, schools are Marxism
forced to respond to the needs of Althusser, the education system performs two Radical feminism, there has not been
teachers parents and pupils. functions for the ideological state apparatus much change for girls in society, believe
- Reproduction, the education system that one of the primary roles in education
Chubb and Moe, state education has reproduces class inequality by failing each is to maintain gender inequality.
failed to create equal opportunity generation of w/c pupils - Gendered language, school
because it does not have to respond - Legitimation, the education system tries to teachers and textbooks use
to pupils needs. Parents and convince people that inequality is inevitable gendered languages
communities cannot do anything and failure is the fault of the individual not - Gendered roles, textbooks
about failing schools when the the capitalist society present traditional gendered
schools are controlled by the state. Bowles and gintis, schools create the new generation of roles eg women as housewives
Private schools deliver higher quality workers to serve the capitalist system. There is a - Gendered stereotypes, textbooks
education because they are hidden curriculum in schools which is used to serve the and teachers tend to stereotype
answerable to paying consumers. capitalist system. The functionalist idea of meritocracy males and female.
is a myth, success is based on class background not
ability or educational achievement
