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Unlock This CourseFunctionalism is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology that views society as a complex system of interconnected parts working together to maintain stability. When functionalists look at education, they focus on how schools help society function smoothly and maintain itself over time.
Key Definitions:
For functionalists, education is not just about learning facts and figures. It's a crucial social institution that helps society run smoothly by teaching shared values, preparing young people for adult roles and sorting people into jobs that match their abilities. Think of education as society's way of ensuring its own survival and stability across generations.
Understanding the functionalist perspective helps us see why schools operate the way they do. Many features of education that we take for granted like national curriculums, exams and school rules make sense when viewed through a functionalist lens. This perspective also raises important questions about whether our education system truly provides equal opportunities for all.
Several important sociologists have developed functionalist theories about education's role in society. Let's look at three influential perspectives:
Durkheim, often considered the founding father of functionalism, saw education as vital for creating social solidarity and teaching society's core values. He argued that schools perform two essential functions:
Schools bring together children from different backgrounds and teach them to cooperate. By learning the same subjects, following the same rules and participating in school activities, children develop a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves or their families.
Schools teach children the shared values needed for society to function. These include respect for authority, punctuality, hard work and cooperation. Durkheim called this creating a "collective conscience" - a set of shared beliefs that bind people together.
Parsons focused on how education bridges the gap between family and wider society. He identified two crucial functions of education:
In families, children are valued for who they are (particularistic values) and treated differently based on their position in the family. In contrast, schools prepare children for the adult world by treating them according to universal standards that apply to everyone. Children learn they'll be judged on achievement rather than who they are.
Parsons saw schools as a "sorting mechanism" that identifies students' talents and abilities and matches them to appropriate future roles in society. Through exams and assessments, schools help allocate people to the positions that best suit their abilities, which benefits both individuals and society.
Davis and Moore focused on how education contributes to social stratification - the way society is organized in layers or strata. Their key argument was:
Some jobs in society are more important or difficult than others and require special skills or lengthy training. These positions need to be filled by the most talented individuals. Education helps identify these talented individuals and rewards them with qualifications that lead to higher-status, better-paid jobs. This creates a fair system where rewards are based on merit rather than social background.
Putting these theories together, functionalists identify several key roles that education plays in maintaining society:
Schools bring together children from diverse backgrounds and teach them common values, creating social cohesion. School subjects like history and citizenship directly promote national identity and shared values.
Education equips young people with the knowledge and skills needed for future work roles. This includes both specific job skills and general skills like literacy, numeracy and critical thinking.
Through testing and qualifications, education identifies individuals' talents and directs them toward appropriate roles in society, creating an efficient division of labour.
Education provides opportunities for talented individuals from all backgrounds to achieve success based on their abilities and efforts, creating a meritocratic society.
By providing a skilled workforce, education contributes to economic growth and prosperity, benefiting society as a whole.
Schools teach discipline, respect for authority and conformity to rules, helping to maintain social order and prevent deviance.
The UK's National Curriculum, introduced in 1988, can be seen as serving functionalist aims. It ensures all students learn a common body of knowledge, promoting shared values and national identity. Core subjects like English, maths and science provide essential skills for the workforce, while standardized testing helps identify talents and allocate students to appropriate pathways. However, critics argue it may reinforce inequalities by valuing certain types of knowledge over others.
While functionalism provides useful insights into education's role in society, it has faced significant criticism:
Functionalists present an overly positive view of education, overlooking how schools can reproduce and reinforce social inequalities. Research shows that children from privileged backgrounds tend to do better in education regardless of ability, challenging the idea of a true meritocracy.
Marxists argue that education primarily serves the interests of the ruling class, not society as a whole. They suggest schools teach working-class children to accept their subordinate position rather than providing equal opportunities.
Functionalists assume a high degree of agreement about values in society. In reality, modern societies are diverse, with many competing values and perspectives. Schools may promote certain values at the expense of others.
Functionalism tends to see students as passive recipients of socialization rather than active participants who can resist or challenge the system. It underestimates human agency and the potential for change.
In your iGCSE Sociology exam, you'll need to show you understand both the functionalist perspective AND its limitations. A good answer will present functionalist ideas clearly but also critically evaluate them using alternative perspectives (like Marxism or feminism) and relevant evidence. Remember to use sociological terminology and refer to key thinkers like Durkheim and Parsons.