Term
3 MAIN FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION
1. Socialisation |
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Definition
Education helps to maintain society by socialising young people into key cultural values.
E.g: achievement, competition, equality of opportunity etc.
(See Durkheim and Parsons) |
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Term
3 MAIN FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION
2. Skills Provision |
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Definition
| Education teaches the skills required by a modern industrial society. |
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Term
3 MAIN FUNCTIONS IN EDUCATION
3. Role Allocation |
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Definition
Davis and Moore (1945): Education allocates people to the most appropriate job for their talents using exams and qualifications. Based on principle of meritocracy.
• The exam system encourages competition, individual achievement and hard work.
• The most important jobs = Highest pay. |
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Term
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Definition
Education should emphasize the moral responsibilities that members of society have towards each other and the wider society.
E.g: the teaching of History, crucial in developing a sense of loyalty to your own society.
•Too much individualism = too little social solidarity and possibly "anomie" |
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Term
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Definition
Education forms a bridge between the family and the wider society by socialising children to adapt to a meritocratic view of achievement.
In the family = Particularistic standards apply
In wider society = universalistic standards apply
Education helps to create a value consensus. |
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Term
| 7 CRITICISMS OF FUNCTIONALIST APPROACH |
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Definition
• emphasises positives of education but ignores negs (inequality, conflict in system etc)
•doesn't consider multicultural societies
• assumes education succeeds in socialisation (see Paul Willis)
•does it teach the right skills and is it successful? (Vocational education has low status in Britain)
• globalisation (Britain behind others in training)
• ignores effects of social divisions on educational success (See conflict theories)
• ignores existence of private education |
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