What is informal education?
Informal education is learning new skills from people around you. These might include things such as gardening, cooking, swimming, reading or writing.
What is formal education?
This is training in a school or college from someone who deliberately teaches things that are needed for adult life or work. The children are then tested on that knowledge, and, if they do well, they progress to do more study until they have passed a lot of tests and examinations. At some point, they leave education and try and get work.
Generally, people in our society people who pass a lot of tests and examinations will earn more and live longer than those who do not. In British law, all children must have a formal education, even if they are taught at home.
What is education like in other cultures?
In Norway, children do not stat school until they are six and then spend a year learning how to get on with each other. In Japan, children attend school and then go to private after-school classes. Japanese children are trained to obedient and follow group rules in school. French and American children do not usually wear uniforms, however French schools focus on knowledge and good marks.
Why did the education system in Britain develop?
- To stop parents sending children to work in factories.
- To prepare children for the world of work.
- To reduce the number of young people who are unemployed.
- To provide workers with skills for employers.
- Parents can work knowing their children are safe.
- It is a way of controlling children.
What is the functionalist view on the role of the education system?
Durkheim and Parsons argue that the education system exists to socialise children in the norms and values of wider society. They say that school is a way of supporting children while they learn the wider social skills needed for adult life. Thus, the children who pass examinations are the best students and they will get the good jobs and lead society when the are adult.
What is the Marxist view on the role of the education system?
Marxists believe that the purpose of education is to control people. The system works in favour of the richer people and ensures that those people do well in school so that they can continue to run society for their own benefit. The rules are there to teach children to be obedient and not to think for themselves so they will be good workers and do what the bosses tell them.
How has the variety of schools changed since the 1970s?
In the 1970s schools were run by Local Education Authorities and tightly controlled by the government. In some areas children attended either a grammar school (for more able children who are taught traditional academic subjects), a secondary modern (which taught practical subjects) or a comprehensive (which all children attend regardless of ability).
Today there are a greater range of school types. These include academies (set up in areas where schools need to improve and are funded by business or faith groups; they can select their pupils), City Technology Colleges (owned and funded by businesses and focus on sciences, technology and the world of work), faith schools (teach about their own religion as well as normal subjects), specialist schools (state schools that specialise in one or two areas such as arts business, science or performing arts) and Free Schools (set up by any group with an interest in education and as a result of parental demand. They are funded by the group and by the government. They can choose what to pay teachers and do not have to follow the National Curriculum).
What cultural and legal changes have taken place in schools since the 1970s?
- In the 1970s violence was common, children were hit and caned. Today, teachers must not touch children.
- In the 1970s, teachers used chalkboards and chalk, learning was done by rote (memorising facts copied from a blackboard or a textbook), whereas today there is computer technology, teachers produce PowerPoint and workbooks for children .Children spend more time talking or thinking, and less tie writing.
- In the 1970s grils and boys had different lessons and boys were believed to be more clever. Today, girls and boys study the same lessons and girls tend to do better.
- In the 1970s, few children sat examinations, today most children sit examination all through their school experience.
- In the 1970s, teachers taught what they wanted, today teachers must follow the National Curriculum. This means that all children study the same subjects. Children are tested and assessed on their progress frequently. Teachers and schools are assessed on the performance of their pupils in these tests. Schools are now inspected regularly.
