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Answer
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Hint
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Emile Durkheim (1893)
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This sociologist was the founder of functionalist sociology. He identified 2 main functions of education: -Creating Social Solidarity -Specialist skills |
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Davis and Moore (1945)
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These sociologists see education as a device for selection and role allocation. They focus on the relationship between education and social inequality. They argue inequality is necessary to ensure most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people. Not everyone in society is equally talented, so society has to offer higher rewards for these jobs, which encourages competition. Education plays a key part in this process, since it acts as a proving ground for ability. This process is called 'sifting and sorting'.
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Achieved Status
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This term relates to having a status achieved through our own efforts, such as getting into University or being promoted at work. In terms of the education system, this means working hard in exams and achieving high grades.
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Role Allocation
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This term involves 'sifting and sorting' people into the roles that they will go on to perform in life. In terms of the education system, this could be the usage of Grammar Schools (for 'smarter students') and Secondary Modern Schools.
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Universalistic Standards
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This term relates to standards or rules that apply to everyone. In terms of the education system, this could be to not bully other people, or simply attend lessons.
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Value Consensus
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This term defines stability in society being based on socialisation into norms and values on which most people agree. Functionalists believe this maintains a peaceful, harmonious society without much conflict between people and groups.
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Specialist Skills
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This term is referred to by the functionalist sociologist Durkheim as a main function of education. He states that due to modern industrial economies being very complex, with production of single items usually involving the cooperation of many different specialists, specialist knowledge and skills need to be taught in the education system, so people can perform their roles.
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Talcott Parsons (1961)
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This sociologist sees school as the 'focal socialising agency' in modern society (agent of secondary socialisation), acting as a bridge between the family and wider society, as it prepares us to move from the family to wider society (also known as Bridge Theory). This is important and he sees the family and wider society as operating on different principles. In the family, the child has an ascribed status and is judged by particularistic standards. In school and wider society, a person's status is achieved and is judged by the same universalistic and impersonal standards, such as through rule of law. This means school and wider society are based on meritocratic principles.
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Particularistic Standards
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This term relates to standards or rules that only apply to one person/family/group. In terms of the education system, this could be to pay for school uniform. Poorer people may be excluded from this due to financial costs.
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Organic Analogy
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This analogy, used by functionalists, sees society as built up and working like the human body. Each part is interrelated and function/contribute to, the maintenance of society as a whole. Each part is studied for its function/purpose for what it carries out as well as how they work together to build up a society.
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Social Solidarity
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This term refers to bonds or connections between individuals in a society that keep the society functioning cohesively. It is the sense of unity and mutual support that individuals in a society feel towards each other.
According to Durkheim, individual members must feel to be a part of a single 'body' or community. Without it, he argues that social life and cooperation would be impossible as each individual would pursue their own selfish desires. Education helps to create this by transmitting society's culture - shared beliefs, values - from 1 generation to the next. For example, teaching of a country's history instils in children a sense of shared heritage and a commitment to the wider social group. Schools act as 'society in miniature', preparing us for life in wider society, through teaching to cooperate with strangers. We have to interact with others according to a set of impersonal rules that apply to everyone. |
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Meritocracy
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This term is a social system in which individuals achieve success (such as rewards) and status based on their abilities and achievements, rather than their social class, wealth, or family background. In other terms, this system is where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
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Functional prerequisites
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This term means basic needs or requirements. Functionalists use this term to argue that society has this, and they must be met in order for society to survive. Examples include: production of food, care of young, and socialisation of new generations into the culture of society.
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Ascribed Status
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This term relates to having a status based on fixed characteristics that we are born with and cannot normally change. In terms of the education system, this could mean being born into a wealthy family, therefore they have more money and resources for learning.
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Functionalism
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This sociological perspective was developed in the 19th century. Using different approaches they have examined: -How societies have managed to stick together and work successfully without falling apart. -How shared values and beliefs (for example, about right and wrong) have helped members of society to work together. -How institutions such as the family and the education system have worked to create predictable and orderly societies.
In general, in terms of education, they argue that schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles. With assessment of individuals' aptitudes and abilities, schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to. |
