Functionalist Perspective in Education System

Davis and Moore (1945): Education's Function

• Education's function is to allocate individuals to roles within society based on their abilities and merit.

• A weakness is the potential for social inequality and the perpetuation of existing power structures. The theory overlooks factors hindering social mobility, particularly for disadvantaged groups.

Feminist Critique of Meritocracy

• Feminists argue meritocracy in education is a myth, masking gender inequalities in access and opportunity, perpetuating patriarchal structures.

Marxist Perspective on Schools

• Marxists view schools as instruments of social control and reproduction of class inequality. They argue education reinforces existing power structures and serves the interests of the dominant class.

Functionalist Perspective: Secondary Socialization

• The purpose of secondary socialization in education is to transmit societal norms, values, and beliefs beyond the family, preparing individuals for adult roles and social participation.

Durkheim's Functionalist View of Schools

• Durkheim viewed schools as crucial societal institutions that transmit culture and norms, contributing to social cohesion and order. Schools teach solidarity and shared values.

Parsons: Family vs. School Standards

• Parsons contrasted the family's particularistic standards (love, affection) with the school's universalistic standards (impartiality, achievement), signifying a transition to broader societal roles.

Durkheim: Education and Occupational Skills

• Durkheim saw education as providing specialized knowledge and skills specific to various occupations to meet societal needs and promote occupational division of labor.

Functionalist Perspective: Workforce Preparation

• Education is necessary to provide a trained work force that meets the needs of a complex, specialized economy and enables continuous technological advancement..

Durkheim: Education and Social Order

• Durkheim believed education helps maintain social order by promoting social cohesion, solidarity, and a shared understanding of societal values and norms.

Explore the functionalist perspective on the education system, focusing on its positive functions, secondary socialization, skills provision, and role allocation. Understand the concept of hidden curriculum, socialization into societal norms and values, and the preparation for adulthood.