Theories of the Roles and Functions of Education
How do Functionalists see the education system?
As a vital organ in the human body thet is society (Organic analogy)
What did Parsons say about the education system?
That school is a bridge which allows children to learn the diffrence between particularistic standards and universalistic standards
What did Davis & Moore say about the education system?
That school creates necessary inequality so that role allocation can happen so everyone has a role in society
What did Blau & Duncan say about the education system?
That school allows for people to gain human capital as they gain new skills and abilities while they are there.
What was a critism that Wolf said about the functionalist view of education?
He found that high quality apprentaiceships are rare and often don't result in high-paid jobs. This means that the education system doesn't teach speasalist skills
What was a critism that Tumin said about the functionalist view of education?
He claimed that Davis & Moore's argument is circular as we know a job is important because it's highly rewarded, and a job is highly rewarded because it's important.
What was a critism that Marxists said about the functionalist view of education?
They say that the education system in a capatalist society only transmits ideas from the ruiling class not the sahred beliefs and values of the whole society
What was a critism that Interactionists said about the functionalist view of education?
They say that the functionalist view is 'over socialised' and sees people as puppets to society and assumes that people passively accept teachings and don't reject values
What was a critism that Neolibrists said about the functionalist view of education?
They say that the education system fails to prepare pupils for work
What do Marxists say about the education system?
They say that teh eduactions system reproduces and legitimates social relations of production through the myth of meritocracy
According to Marxists what is the superstructure?
The superstructure helps the ruling class to keep control of the working class.
- The base: Means of Production & Relations of Production
- Media, Religion, Family, Politics and Education all maintain and legitimate the base
What did Althuser say about the education system?
He said that the main fuction of the education system is to maintain, legitimate, generation by generation, class inequalities in wealth and power. He also claims that the education system is an ideological state apparatus as it disguses ruiling class capitalist values as common values.
What did Bourdieu say about the education system?
He argues that the working classes are effectively duped into accepting their failure and limited social mobility are justified
What did Bowles & Gintins say about the education system?
They argued that the education system is controlled by capitalists and serves their intrests. This is done by schooling taking place in the 'Long shadow of work'.
How did Postmodernists critise the Marxist view of education?
They say that the education system is diverse and invloves no inequality and that the corospndense principle is wrong becuase we need schools to make labour forces in today's post-fordist economy.
How did Morrow & Torres critise the Marxist view of education?
They argue that the society is more diverse and Marxists that take a class first approach ignore inequalities of race, gender and more.
How did MacDonald critise the Marxist view of education?
He said that Marxists ignore the education system reproduces patriachy rather than class inequalitities.
What do Neolibrists say about the education system?
They believe that the education system should be run like a business by using free market forces. This is because it would encourge schools to worl harder to please the consumers (Parent & Pupils)
What did Chubb & Moe say about the education system?
They say that state education is ineffective becuase it fails to produce pupils awih skills needed by the economy. They argue that the reason for private shcools achieve better grades as they are answerable to the pupils and their parents.
What is the Vouccher system that Chubb & Moe designed?
This would mean each family is given one voucher to spend on education from a school of their choice. This would be the schools main source of income and funding. This system would make schools accountable for their successes and failures.
How did Ball critise the Neolibrist view of education?
He argues that running schools like buisnesses only benifits the middle class becuase they have better access to shcools as a result of their cultural and economic capital.
How did Marxists critise the Neolibrist view of education?
They argue that there is no shared culture in education as the ruliling class culture devalues working class and ethnic minorities' culture.
What do Interactionists say about the education system?
They say that school is an enourmous part of social life and it helps socialisation and pupils actively engage in. They also say that pupils form subcultures and identies that they carry elements of into their adult life.
What does Becker say about the education system?
He says that teachers have and idea of their 'ideal pupil' that they judge all pupils against this standard.
What is the Halo Effect?
This explains how positive impressions of pupil's characteristics can have a resulting 'shine' on their impression of other characteristics.
What did Harvey & Slatin so related to the education system?
They showed pictures of children from different backgrounds. This was to 96 different teachers. Those from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with a lower class background were identified as less able.
What is the Self-fulfilling Prophecy?
A label is a prediction. When a teacher or school labels pupils they often conform to that label. This is via differential treatment.
What is setting & streaming?
When a school places pupils in sets or streams they label them.
- Streaming: Same groups for everything
- Setting: Different groups for different subjects
What happens to to people in lower sets and streams?
Smyth: Have more negative attitudes towards school
Ball: Were more likely to feel ‘cooled’ out by education and try to leave as soon as possible