Secondary Socialisation Analysis

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Assess the view that the education system exists mainly to select and prepare young people for their future work roles One perspective that supports this is the functionalist view that secondary socialisation prepares children for work later on in life. They believe secondary socialisation does this as in a school environment you learn the norms and values of authority figures, for example, the teachers. Functionalists therefore believe that this can then later be applied in the work place as the norms and values are carried on however the authority figure role changes from teacher to boss. Generally, the text implies that primary socialisation isn’t enough in preparation for a large-scale society. Education, a secondary agency of socialisation…show more content…
To him, education is a ‘focal socialising agency’ acting as a bridge between the family and the society. e.g. the workplace. Generally, both sides operate on different principles and the child is needed to adapt to the universalistic standards and norms that will enable them to cope in the wider society. Parsons concluded that school is based on meritocratic principles whereby everyone is given equal opportunity, and individuals achieve rewards through their own efforts and abilities. At work, we gain promotion get sacked if we are good or incompetent for the job, while at school we pass or fail through our own individual efforts. This is how Parsons believes school prepares the young people for the work…show more content…
Education can equip individuals with the specialist skills and knowledge they will need to join the workforce because it ‘sifts and sorts’ students according to their own ability. The sociologists believe that the most important roles in the society should be filled by the most talented. For example, it would be inefficient and dangerous to have less able people performing roles such as a surgeon or airline pilot. The reward offered to people at different jobs encourages everyone to compete for them, leading to the selection of the best people for these positions in the society. Additionally, Peter Blau and Otis Duncan agree that a meritocratic education system enables each person to be allocated the jobs best suited to their abilities. This will eventually make effective use of their talents and maximise their
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