education role+function

Question 1

who are the 3 key functionalists and their perspectives in education

Answer 1

1. Durkheim
2. parsons
3. davis + moore

Question 2

what does Durkheim say about education?

Answer 2

1. function of education- transmit norms
2. social solidarity
3. specialised division of labour- relies on education system to provide skills
4. specialist skills- specialised functions for future roles

Question 3

what are 2 evaluation points for Durkheim?

Answer 3

1. marxists argue education serves in favour of the ruling class
2. emphasise individual competition rather than social solidarity

Question 4

what does parsons say about education?

Answer 4

1. education acts as a bridge between family and wider society
2. meritocratic principles- equal opportunity
3. achievement measured by examinations
4. school acts as a mechanism for role allocation

Question 5

what is 1 evaluation point for parsons?

Answer 5

marxist argue they develop false class consciousness preparing for next gen of capitalist workers

Question 6

what does Davis and Moore argue about education?

Answer 6

1. social stratification- inequality needed for role allocation
2. education sifts and sorts- rewards talented with high qualifications

Question 7

define what Davis and Moore meant by social stratification

Answer 7

the way different groups if people are placed within society

Question 8

what is 2 evaluation points for davis and Moore

Answer 8

1. social stratification prevents education from grading by ability
2. role allocation not always about ability/talent

Question 9

which New right sociologist discusses the role and function of education?

Answer 9

chubb and moe

Question 10

according to the new right what are the 2 roles of education for the state?

Answer 10

1. create competitive markets via rules
2. ensure shared culture via school curriculum

Question 11

what does Neo-liberalists argue?

Answer 11

1. free market with no gov intervention is better for society
2. education and healthcare should not be state provided

Question 12

what 3 key ideas does Neo- liberalists provide for education markets to function properly?

Answer 12

1. privatisation- private sector participation raises standards of education
2. marketisation- schools should compete for customers
3. globalisation- key to success in global markets- global companies involvements such as exam boards- revenue

Question 13

what does chubb and moe argue about education?
consumer choice

Answer 13

1.state systems fail due to unequal opportunity
2. proposal for state- parents given vouchers to buy children’s education
3. argue that education should be more meritocratic
evidence:
- low income children do 5% better in private schools

Question 14

what are 4 evaluation points/sociologists of education?
not always good

Answer 14

1. education markets are unfair
2. competition and choice do not raise standards- levin+belfield
3. schools are more selective
4. education as a means to an end- coffield+williamson

Question 15

why are education markets unfair?

Answer 15

• some parents have more knowledge of education and more money- “skilled choosers”

Question 16

what does levin and belfield (2006) argue about why school competition does not raise standards?

Answer 16

1. competition and choice produces greater inequality
2. competition favours middle class students

Question 17

why are schools more selective ?

Answer 17

• schools choose students rather than parents choosing the school
• schools select students in favour of them so that they can remain at the top of the league board

Question 18

what does coffield and Williamson argue about in relation to education as a means to end?

Answer 18

• schools=exam factories
• students become mark hungry and obsessed by exams
• results measure success

Question 19

what does Neo-marxists say about education?

Answer 19

1. education carries out a dissemination (spread)
   of ideas
2. education legitimises class inequality

Question 20

which 3 marxists are used to explain the role and function of education?

Answer 20

1. Althusser
2. Bowles and gintis
3. Paul willis

Question 21

according to Althusser which system was the main ideological state apparatus in pre-capitalist society?

Answer 21

the church- past
education- now

Question 22

what is the ideological state apparatus?

Answer 22

whereby mass media, law, religion and education transmit ruling class ideology- creates false class consciousness (fail to recognise exploitation)

Question 23

what does Althusser argue about education?

Answer 23

• myth of meritocracy- education system legitimises inequality under the pretence that it offers equality
• if people didn’t accept myth- poses serious risk to rolling class

Question 24

what’s 1 evaluation point of Althusser?

Answer 24

• hes criticised for picturing members of society as cultural dopes

Question 25

what does Bowles and gintis argue about education in capitalist America?

Answer 25

1. hidden curriculum + correspondence principle- preps young people for work in capitalist society- unquestioning via the hidden curriculum 2. legitimation of inequality- legitimation of inequalities- "essential for the individual to accept... unequal aspects of the work world" 3. myth of meritocracy- attainment based on background not talent 4. social reproduction- education prepares students for work- hierarchal division/accept authority

Question 26

what does Paul Willis argue about education? creation of counter school culture

Answer 26

1. wc boys- "lads" rejected middle class nature of schools- education system=rigged 2. resistance- resented school/freedom- eager to leave school and start work 3. learning to labour- boys active in the way that they prepare themselves for own future