Educational Function of Families
Families play a crucial role in the education of children, both formally and informally. This educational function is one of the most important roles families perform in society, shaping children's future opportunities and life chances.
Key Definitions:
- Educational function: The role families play in teaching children knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed for life in society.
- Cultural capital: The knowledge, skills, education and advantages a person has that give them higher status in society.
- Primary socialisation: The process where children learn basic values, norms and behaviours from their family during early childhood.
🏠 Informal Education at Home
Families provide children's first educational experiences through:
- Teaching basic skills (talking, walking, personal hygiene)
- Developing language abilities through conversation
- Sharing knowledge about the world
- Teaching values, manners and appropriate behaviour
- Providing learning resources like books and educational toys
🏫 Supporting Formal Education
Families support children's school education by:
- Helping with homework and revision
- Attending parents' evenings
- Communicating with teachers
- Encouraging good study habits
- Setting educational aspirations and expectations
- Making decisions about school choice
Cultural Capital and Educational Advantage
French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu developed the concept of 'cultural capital' to explain how some families give their children educational advantages. Middle-class families often have more cultural capital to pass on to their children.
📚 Embodied Capital
Knowledge, skills and attitudes learned through family socialisation:
- Language skills and vocabulary
- Confidence in formal settings
- Study habits and discipline
🎭 Objectified Capital
Physical cultural goods in the home:
- Books and educational resources
- Computers and technology
- Art, music and cultural objects
🎓 Institutionalised Capital
Formal qualifications and credentials:
- Parents' educational qualifications
- Knowledge of educational systems
- Social connections with educators
Sociological Perspectives on Family and Education
Different sociological perspectives have varying views on how families influence education:
📈 Functionalist Perspective
Functionalists see the family's educational role as essential for society:
- Families prepare children for school by teaching basic skills
- They reinforce the value of education and achievement
- Families and schools work together to socialise children
- This helps maintain social order and economic productivity
⚖ Marxist Perspective
Marxists argue that educational inequalities are reproduced through families:
- Working-class families have fewer resources to support education
- Middle-class families pass on advantages to their children
- This reproduces class inequality across generations
- The education system favours middle-class cultural capital
👩 Feminist Perspective
Feminists highlight gender issues in family educational support:
- Mothers often take primary responsibility for children's education
- Families may have different expectations for boys and girls
- Gender stereotypes can be reinforced through family socialisation
- This can affect subject choices and career aspirations
🌎 Interactionist Perspective
Interactionists focus on everyday family interactions:
- Daily conversations shape children's attitudes to learning
- Labels applied at home affect self-perception and confidence
- Family relationships influence motivation and engagement
- Parenting styles impact educational outcomes
Family Structures and Educational Achievement
Research suggests that family structure can influence educational outcomes, though the relationship is complex and affected by many factors:
Key Family Factors Affecting Education
- Parental involvement: Children whose parents are actively involved in their education tend to achieve better results.
- Family size: Children from smaller families may receive more individual attention and resources.
- Parenting styles: Authoritative parenting (firm but warm) is often associated with better educational outcomes than authoritarian (strict) or permissive (lenient) styles.
- Home learning environment: Homes with books, educational activities and discussions about learning support better achievement.
- Family stability: Major disruptions like divorce can temporarily affect educational performance, though many children adapt well over time.
Case Study Focus: The Millennium Cohort Study
This major UK study has followed the lives of around 19,000 children born in 2000-2001. The research has found that:
- Children whose parents read to them daily at age 3 were 8 months ahead in language skills by age 5 compared to those who weren't read to.
- Regular bedtimes and routines were linked to better cognitive development.
- Parental aspirations for their children to attend university strongly predicted children's own aspirations by age 14.
- Family income had a significant impact on educational outcomes, but parental involvement could help reduce this gap.
This research highlights how everyday family practices can significantly impact educational achievement.
Contemporary Issues in Family Educational Function
💻 Digital Divide
Not all families have equal access to technology:
- Some families lack computers, tablets or reliable internet
- This became especially problematic during COVID-19 lockdowns
- Digital literacy of parents affects their ability to support learning
- Schools increasingly expect digital engagement from families
👪 Diverse Family Forms
Modern family structures are increasingly diverse:
- Single-parent families may face time and resource constraints
- Step-families navigate complex relationships and responsibilities
- Same-sex parents may challenge traditional gender expectations
- Extended families can provide additional educational support
Summary: The Educational Function of Families
The family's educational function is crucial for children's development and future opportunities. Families provide both informal education at home and support for formal schooling. However, not all families have equal resources or cultural capital to support their children's education.
Sociologists debate whether the family's educational function helps society run smoothly (functionalism) or reproduces inequality (Marxism). What's clear is that family practices - from reading bedtime stories to discussing career aspirations - have a profound impact on educational outcomes.
As society changes, so do the challenges families face in fulfilling their educational function. Digital technology, diverse family structures and economic pressures all shape how families support learning. Understanding these factors helps us address educational inequalities and support all families in their vital educational role.