Function Role of Education - Sociology
1. The function or role of education
Functionalists
Functionalists say it does 3 important things
• Teaches the skills needed for a job (so helps the economy) • Sorts the clever people from the thick for the right jobs (allocation function) • Is secondary socialisation (so helps people fit into society).
Durkheim said the last one is done by passing on norms and values and this continues shared values – a consensus. Thus we have social order.
Parsons adds that schools prepare children for the adult world too – and prepares them for the competition they face as adults since schools are competitive (you have to compete with others to do well).
Davis and Moore say we have to have unequal rewards (pay) to motivate the cleverer students to stay on in education to learn and to be willing to do the harder jobs.
Functionalists see society as a meritocracy – people get what they merit/deserve in jobs based on how well they’ve done in school.
Marxists
Marxists say education does 3 things too • Helps capitalism by teaching kids what they need to work for the capitalists • Justifies inequality because the working class kids fail exams and look ‘thick’ • Passes on beliefs that all is fair in society (passes on a ruling class ideology).
Althusser says it produces a docile and obedient workforce – they failed exams and accept they only deserve a poorly paid job. Class-based inequalities just carry on generation after generation because children grow up believing capitalism is normal, just and fair. Education is part of the ideological state apparatus m
Bowles and Gintis say at school kids learn to accept a hierarchy (people in charge of others) , they accept getting a reward for doing something boring, they get used to a ‘working day’ with a lunch break, and they learn you get rewarded for following the rules. All this prepares you to accept a boring job in capitalism.
Willis said not everyone accepts school – some kids cope by mucking about and they cope with a
Functionalists
Functionalists say it does 3 important things
• Teaches the skills needed for a job (so helps the economy) • Sorts the clever people from the thick for the right jobs (allocation function) • Is secondary socialisation (so helps people fit into society).
Durkheim said the last one is done by passing on norms and values and this continues shared values – a consensus. Thus we have social order.
Parsons adds that schools prepare children for the adult world too – and prepares them for the competition they face as adults since schools are competitive (you have to compete with others to do well).
Davis and Moore say we have to have unequal rewards (pay) to motivate the cleverer students to stay on in education to learn and to be willing to do the harder jobs.
Functionalists see society as a meritocracy – people get what they merit/deserve in jobs based on how well they’ve done in school.
Marxists
Marxists say education does 3 things too • Helps capitalism by teaching kids what they need to work for the capitalists • Justifies inequality because the working class kids fail exams and look ‘thick’ • Passes on beliefs that all is fair in society (passes on a ruling class ideology).
Althusser says it produces a docile and obedient workforce – they failed exams and accept they only deserve a poorly paid job. Class-based inequalities just carry on generation after generation because children grow up believing capitalism is normal, just and fair. Education is part of the ideological state apparatus m
Bowles and Gintis say at school kids learn to accept a hierarchy (people in charge of others) , they accept getting a reward for doing something boring, they get used to a ‘working day’ with a lunch break, and they learn you get rewarded for following the rules. All this prepares you to accept a boring job in capitalism.
Willis said not everyone accepts school – some kids cope by mucking about and they cope with a