He argues that without social solidarity, social life would be impossible as everyone would pursue their own selfish desires and not work together to get what they want out of life. The education system helps to create this social solidarity by transmitting society's ideas from one generation to the next. For example, Durkheim argues that teaching of a countries history instil a sense of a shared heritage and commitment to the wider social group. However Marxists argue this social solidarity is just brainwashing students into thinking that everyone in society today is equal and that we are all part of society, while we are really just getting exploited by the bourgeoisie. People are just being led into a sense of false class consciousness and are being persuaded into thinking they have the same values of everyone else when they actually haven't.
Merton’s approach explains how both normal and deviant behaviour can stem from the same goals, however it clearly ignores the power of the ruling class to make and enforce laws, and is too deterministic as not all working class people deviate. A.K Cohen alternatively disagrees with the majority of the strain theory as he states deviance is an individual not group response to strain, and believes Merton only focuses on utilitarian crimes and not crimes with no economic motives. Cohen suggests working class boys are the anomie in the middle class education system, and as they lack the skills to achieve they develop status frustration and therefore group together with those of a similar mind-set which creates a subculture. A.K Cohens view overall does not support the suggestion that crime and deviance are
Many CD sociologists see a lack of intellectual and linguistic as a major barrier to achievement in education, this is because a lack of these skills will slow development of reasoning skills, which can disadvantage the student. Bereiter and Engelmann consider the language used by black American families on low income as “inadequate for educational success”. Similarity, Bowker identifies their lack of Standard English as a barrier to education and integration in wider society. Most CD theorists see a lack of motivation as a key barrier to progress in educational achievement in black children compared to white or Asian children; who are instilled with ambition and a willingness to achieve thanks to the mainstream culture they are brought up in. Family structure varies greatly between ethnic groups, Ken Pryce argues that Asians are higher achievers because their culture is more resistant to racism and gives them a greater sense of self worth, whereas Black pupils have low self esteem due to racism and as such they achieve less in education.
Working-class children don’t believe they can improve their position through their own individual efforts. The final aspect is low value on education – Hyman argues that the working class don’t value education, so they don’t try.
A sociological theory is the same as a sociological perspective; it is a way that sociologists look at something. “A sociological theory is a set of ideas that provide an explanation for human society” Haralombus, M & Holborn, M 2008 page 855. The Marxism theory is known as a conflict theory, Marxism was founded by Karl Marx, (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels, (1820-1895). “Marxism revolves around class conflict centred on the forces of production requiring social relationships to function. These combine to form the infrastructure and the superstructure i.e.
A- The first trait could cause controversy if you are a union employee, because in a union free charter school system the underperforming teachers get paid less, while the better teachers get paid more. Without any collective bargaining power, and no protection under tenure, the underperforming teachers are a whole lot more likely to get
Education: How the Nation Stays Afloat and the Students Sink American culture plays a critical role in how our educational systems were designed. American culture has created the myth that is, without a formal education, success, creativity and individuality are impossible to achieve. However, schools are not assisting the students in their pursuit of success and individuality. The educational system was produce with another mission in mind; suppress the student’s intelligence and creativity, increase funds with Corporate America by manipulating the handicap schools and assign each student a social role and aid them in developing that role only. Schools are not as helpful as we may have perceived, they discreetly create docile citizens by giving the illusion that the system is developing each student.
In the perfect society, Plato believes that it is necessary for rulers to occasionally refrain from telling the whole truth. He explains why it is in the best interest of the governing class to lie to its working classes in order to maintain the structure of power. First, he discusses his reasoning behind The Guardian class. His system of rulers is based on individual ability, unlike most ruling systems where the people in charge become so based off of family history and financial status (in The Republic, Guardians are not specifically wealthy or poor, as he believes either circumstance would render them unable to accomplish their work). Plato's society is one built around excellence and formed under an aristocratic class that thrives off of the necessity to be as first-rate as possible.
The New Right also believe that they only encourage diversity in family types and therefore are bad for society. State policies and laws can be seen as assisting the family in things such as childcare therefore they are a good impact on family life. An example of this is the ‘working family tax credit’, which was developed to remove child poverty and focus benefits on children in need. Functionalists see this policy as a benefit to society, as it encourages families to form and helps parents with socialising and raising the next generation (financially). However, Marxists would disagree and say that this policy as it supports the working class mostly therefore encourages people to work at the benefit of capitalism.
This essay will look at that two structural theories of functionalism and Marxists, it will compare and contrast both perspectives and identify similarities and differences in their views of on education family, as well as highlighting the strengths and a weaknesses in both perspectives. Sociological Theory Map (Dierkes', 2010) Emile Durkheim, the French sociologist was one of the founding functionalists. Believed sociology should be studied scientifically methods, just as scientists study the natural world. His famous first principle of sociology was “study social fact as things!” This form of study is known as positivism. The functionalist draws an analogy between the function of society and the function of the human body.