Introduction - define what capitalism is. Explain how the essay question (above) is from a marxists point of view.DONE
Main- Identify ways in which the education system serves capitalist society.
Talk about Education as an ISA, the hidden curriculum, meritocracy, correspondence principle, the lads anti-school subculture.
Give a definition of all the above points, and explain how they are linked to the essay question . Evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion - Compare marxist view with functionalist view that the education system benefits society as a whole, e.g. social solidarity, specialist skills.
Explain how the New Right argue that schools fail to meet the needs of employers - much of the teaching is irrelevant to workplace.
Functionalist view of education.
Definitions for the following terms:
Functionalism - The theory that all aspects of a society serve a function and are necessary for the survival of society.
Consensus Theory - A social theory that states that social change should occur in institutions that are provided by a political or economic system.
Functional Prerequisite - Basic needs (food, shelter, clothing and money) that an individual requires to live above the poverty line.
Organic Analogy - Used to compare society to the human body, they argue that all parts of society need to work togethe in order for society to mantain the consensus. For example if the education system was failing, it would effect many other parts of society e.g. the workplace.
Social Solidarity - A set of norms, values and morals that hold a certain group of people together.
Specialist Skills - A set of skills that a person/group of people would require to do a certain job.
Particularistic Standards - Rules that apply only to one particular person/group of people.
Universalistic Standards - Rules that apply to everyone.
Meritocracy - A system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement.
Role Allocation - The system of allocating people to roles which suit their aptitudes and capabilities (aptitudes - natural abilities/ natural tendency to do something)
Similarities and differences between Functionalist and Marxist views:
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
“Skills are capabilities and expertise in a particular occupation or activity. There are a large number of different types of skills and they can be split into a number of different categories. Basic skills, such as literacy and numeracy, and generic skills, such as team working and communication, are applicable in most jobs. Specific skills tend to be less transferable between occupations. Most occupations use a mix of…
- 422 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Functionalism is the sociological perspective that focuses on the institutions, e.g. the legal justice system and the healthcare system, as working in harmony with one another, making specific and clear contributions to the smooth running of society.…
- 2733 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Talcott parson (1902-1979) sees society made up via different institution, which helps the society to function smoothly. This is the same as the body works. Each part of the body has vital roles to play in order to make the body function smoothly. If one of the roles doesn’t function the body will be weak. This is known as organic analogy.…
- 438 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The Functionalist Perspective is a sociological perspective that emphasizes each part of society contributing to the survival of that society. In Sociology in Modules, they define the functionalists perspective as, “A sociological approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability (Schaefer 15).” The functionalist perspective can be compared to the human body model. Each part of the body performs specific tasks. For example, our legs allow us to walk or run and our lungs allow us to breathe. Without each and every body part, one simply cannot perform to the maximum potential. Now when a functionalist is looking at a society, they may see different social groups that contribute to a larger population.…
- 1844 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays -
Functionalism- The functionalist perspective describes society like the human body, in the sense that society as a whole has social institutions to help it run smoothly these are education, family and the law. When one of the parts fails or shuts down the rest suffer and society is not running…
- 659 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Some would argue that the education system mainly exists to select and prepare students for their future work roles and careers. Marxists believe that the education system’s role is the ideological apparatus of the state; it spreads ruling-class ideology and favours the middle class. Marxists such as Althusser, Bowels & Gintus and Bourdieu disagree with this statement as they argue working class children get a second class education compared to middle class and are given an unrealistic expectation for the future.…
- 856 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
the Functionalist view that industrial capitalist societies are meritocracies and that every ones’ position in society is based on talent and hard work. Bowles and Gintis suggest ideas for why this is the case. They bases their theory around the idea of education being an ideological state apparatus. Bowles and Gintis’ theory is based on the ‘long shadow of work’ and the legitimating of inequality. When speaking of the ‘long shadow of work’, Bowles and Gintis are referring to the strong relationship between social relationships at school and at work – they believe this helps education to play its major role in reproducing a labour force with hardworking, disciplined workers. Educations do this through the hidden curriculum and the correspondence theory. The hidden curriculum relates to many features of the workplace. An example of this would be that in school the hidden curriculum teaches students to abide by rules and accept punishment, this corresponds to the workplace where students would conform to rules and not argue with your boss. People believe that society and the education system is meritocratic. Bowles and Gintis believe this to be false, as in reality it is legitimating the inequalities that exist in society. Althusser sees education as an ideological state apparatus. This is where the government issues ruling class ideas through different institutions, or apparatus, in this case education is the main apparatus. This is needed by capitalism to transmit the idea that the inequalities in society are justified as society is meritocratic. This helps capitalism by preparing students for their future jobs. The working class are taught to accept their future exploitation in the workplace. Where as the middle class are prepared for management roles supported by their qualifications. However, these views from the Marxists are merely ideas and theories, as…
- 662 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
5. Functionalism- an approach to psychology concerned with the adaptive purpose, or function, of mind and behavior.…
- 1088 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Functionalism: According to the functionalist perspective of sociology, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's stability and functioning as a whole. For example, the government provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. The family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families.…
- 3346 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
2013. The History of Education in England. [online] Available at: http://www.educationengland.org.uk/ [Accessed: 5 Dec 2013].…
- 1626 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The functionalist views on the education/school is that it prepares us for the future e.g. jobs. Talcott Parsons says that school is the bridge to the real world, in the time we are in school it conditions us to behave the way we are expected to behave in life. School teaches us the norms and values that we need for the future, Emile Durkheim believes that by teaching children history we a creating them so see the bigger picture, making people work as a team a giving a sense of commitment. He also argues that education teaches children the skills they need to know to do their part in society. The weakness in his theory is that he never tested it out, he just said what he believed was right. All functionalist believe that we are in a meritocratic society and that children are rewarded on their skills and ability, not there social class.…
- 396 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
From functionalist perspective, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole.…
- 482 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Some sociologist argue that the education system performs key functions in society, functionalists such as Talcott parsons and Emile Durkheim believe that certain functions are vital in the educational system in order for it to be successful. In this essay different functions that functionalists believe that are key in the education system will be discussed.…
- 344 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Marxist view of the role of education in society…
- 481 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Functionalism is another social theoretical approach which emphasizes the study of social activity as society functions as a…
- 891 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays