Educational Achievement » Functionalist Views on Achievement

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The key principles of the functionalist perspective on education
How functionalists view educational achievement and meritocracy
Parsons' view on the role of education in society
Davis and Moore's theory of stratification in education
Criticisms of the functionalist perspective on achievement
Real-world examples and case studies of functionalist ideas in education

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Introduction to Functionalist Views on Educational Achievement

Functionalism 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 it comes to education, functionalists believe schools serve positive functions for both individuals and society as a whole.

Key Definitions:

Functionalism: A theoretical perspective that sees society as a system of interconnected parts working together to maintain social order and stability.
Meritocracy: A system where people achieve status based on their abilities, talents and hard work rather than their social background.
Social solidarity: The sense of unity and togetherness within a society.
Role allocation: The process of matching people to jobs based on their talents, skills and qualifications.

🏫 Core Functionalist Beliefs

Functionalists believe education serves several positive purposes:

Transmitting society's core values to the next generation
Teaching specialist skills needed for work
Selecting and allocating people to appropriate roles in society
Creating social solidarity through shared experiences
Providing equal opportunities for social mobility

📈 Achievement Through Merit

Functionalists argue that modern education systems are based on meritocracy, where:

Students are rewarded based on their abilities and effort
Everyone has an equal chance to succeed
Exams and qualifications provide a fair way to sort people
The most talented rise to the top regardless of background
This system benefits both individuals and society

Talcott Parsons: Education as Socialisation

Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) was a key American functionalist sociologist who saw education as vital for maintaining social order. His ideas help us understand how functionalists view educational achievement.

Parsons' Bridge Theory

Parsons argued that schools act as a 'bridge' between family and wider society. In families, children are treated as special and judged by 'particularistic' standards (based on who they are). In contrast, schools introduce 'universalistic' standards where everyone is judged by the same rules.

🏠 Family

Status is 'ascribed' (given at birth)

Children judged by who they are

Treatment is personalised

Emotional relationships

🏫 School

Status is 'achieved' (earned)

Children judged by what they do

Same rules apply to everyone

More formal relationships

🏢 Workplace

Fully achieved status

Judged by skills and performance

Completely universalistic standards

Professional relationships

According to Parsons, schools prepare children for adult life by teaching them that achievement is based on merit, not family background. This creates a fair system where the most talented individuals can rise to the top.

Davis and Moore: Stratification and Role Allocation

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore developed another important functionalist theory about how education sorts people into different social positions.

Key Theory: Davis and Moore (1945)

Davis and Moore argued that social inequality is actually necessary and beneficial for society. They believed that:

Some jobs are more important than others for society's functioning
Important jobs require more talent and training
To motivate people to take on difficult roles, society must offer greater rewards
Education helps identify the most talented individuals and prepares them for these important roles

According to Davis and Moore, educational achievement is the fair way to determine who gets which jobs in society. Those who work harder and show more ability in school deserve the higher-paying, more prestigious jobs they eventually receive.

💼 Role Allocation

Functionalists believe education helps match people to the right jobs by:

Testing students' abilities through exams
Teaching specific skills needed for different careers
Encouraging appropriate values like hard work
Providing qualifications that signal ability to employers
Creating a fair competition where the most able succeed

🎓 Value Consensus

Schools promote shared values that help society function:

Achievement and success through hard work
Competition as positive and necessary
Equality of opportunity (not equality of outcome)
Respect for authority and rules
Acceptance of hierarchy as natural and beneficial

Criticisms of the Functionalist View

While functionalist theories offer useful insights, many sociologists criticise their view of educational achievement as too simplistic and idealistic.

Key Criticisms

Critics argue that functionalists:

Ignore inequality: They overlook how social class, gender and ethnicity affect educational outcomes
Assume meritocracy: They claim education is fair when evidence suggests otherwise
Overstate consensus: They downplay conflict and power differences in society
Justify inequality: They present social inequality as necessary and beneficial
Neglect hidden curriculum: They focus on official learning but ignore unofficial messages that reinforce inequality

Case Study: The Myth of Meritocracy

Research consistently shows that in the UK, social background strongly influences educational achievement:

In 2019, 44.9% of students eligible for free school meals achieved grade 4 or above in English and maths GCSE, compared to 71.8% of all other pupils
Students from private schools are significantly more likely to attend top universities
Children from professional backgrounds are more likely to achieve top grades than equally able children from working-class backgrounds

This evidence challenges the functionalist belief that education is purely meritocratic and suggests other factors beyond individual merit affect achievement.

Modern Functionalist Applications

Despite criticisms, functionalist ideas continue to influence education policy and practice today.

📝 National Curriculum

Aims to give all students access to the same knowledge and create shared cultural values, supporting social solidarity.

📊 League Tables

Promote competition between schools and emphasise measurable achievement, reflecting functionalist focus on meritocracy.

🏆 Emphasis on Exams

Standardised testing aims to identify talent objectively, supporting the functionalist idea of fair role allocation.

Summary: Key Functionalist Ideas on Achievement

To summarise, functionalists view educational achievement as:

Based primarily on individual merit, talent and hard work
A fair way to allocate people to different social positions
Beneficial for both individuals (who get appropriate rewards) and society (which gets the right people in the right jobs)
Part of a system that creates social stability and consensus
A bridge between family life and the adult world of work

While this perspective has limitations, understanding functionalist views on educational achievement helps us see how education systems are designed to serve broader social needs beyond just teaching knowledge.

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