I will refer to sources from Durkheim, Parsons, Davis & Moore, Althusser and Bowles & Gintis. Functionalists believe that education transmits society's norms and values and therefore promotes value consensus, with the educational and economic system working hand in hand to develop the skills required for the world of work. Emile Durkheim provides the basic framework of the functionalists view on the education system, agreeing with its function of transmitting norms and values. He believed that for society to operate effectively they have to develop a sense of belonging to something, becoming 'social beings' with a loyalty and commitment to society as a whole. The education system creates this effectively by teaching subjects such as history, which enables children to see the link between themselves and wider society.
Depending on your personal achievement will determine how well you do. He expresses his feelings that schools prepares children from moving on from family to society and how society is meritocratic likewise within education. However as functionalists see education as society and schools based on
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.
For example they look at what education does for society as a whole not just certain people in society. Functionalists also believe that society is based on consensus, i.e. we are all socialised to agree on norms and values. Functionalists believe that each part of society has a function to make sure that society runs smoothly and everything stays in harmony. For example education has a function to make sure people are educated and conform to works place norms.
We create a calm and purposeful ethos within our school. A Mission Statement- is a statement that defines the way your school approaches education. The mission statement allows parents to see the approach the school takes and can use this as guidance. It helps parents decide if what is offer matches their views on educational goals. In my school will strive to produce happy, healthy, confident and successful learners.
They believe that education can help socialise children through religious assemblies, the National Curriculum and citizenship lessons. The New Right wants educational policies that will increase choice with market principles to raise standards. If a school is successful, it will attract parents and children purely because it is successful. The New Right believes that all parents have the right to send their child to a successful school â hence their support of parental choice. The New Right also believes that a successful school will gather sufficient momentum to build on its successes.
In order to gain a better understanding of how an individual can attain educational success, one has to examine other social constructs such as class, race and gender. This essay aims to discuss the theory of cultural capital in determining an individual’s chances of obtaining education success by reference to the notions of race, class and gender. Education is a type of socialisation, and institutions such as schools and universities play a key role in the socialisation process. Through socialisation, individuals learn and internalise knowledge, values, norms and other aspects of culture, which would prepare them for their roles in the society (Thirumaran, 2014). However, many individuals possess cultural capital before they even begin their educational journey.
It is also seen as a tool for socialisation, and a key social institution in sustaining the value consensus for the society to run smoothly (Webb et al, 2008). According to Murdock (1949), the four main functions of the family are identified as: education, which is the socialisation of the young into society shared norms and values of learning right from wrong. Parsons (1955), agreed with Murdock, but stated that the functions of the family in the society are of two folds: the primary socialisation which is the socialisation of the children to equip them with the norms and values they need to succeed in society. He goes on to argue that if children are not successfully socialised, they will not fit the value consensus and will not be able to function in the society (Harris, 2008). Murdock (1949) added that the family exists to provide economic function and that parents have the responsibility to take care of their family financially, usually through harmonious division of labour where the man takes on the instrumental role, and provide for the family, and the woman adopts the
This perspective views society as stable and well integrated; the individual as socialized to perform societal functions; and social order as maintained through cooperation and consensus (Schaefer 19). Functionalists see society like a human body, in which institutions like education are like important organs that keep the body/society healthy and well. Education is important to socialize children and teenagers. Socialization is the process through which people learn the attitudes, values, and actions appropriate for members of a particular culture (Schaefer 37). The conflict perspective is defined in the text as a sociological approach that assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups (Schaefer 15).
* Social Control- Teaching acceptance of rules and values. * The political role- Teaching people to be effective citizens. 2) How would functionalists explain the purpose of education? Functionalist such as Parson believes that the purpose of education is to perform a beneficial role in the society. One way to perform a beneficial role in the society is to learn the skills and knowledge from school that is necessary to work in a modern, technical, industrial society e.g.