Sociological Perspectives on Education

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of education according to Durkheim?

  • To foster individual creativity
  • To transmit shared beliefs and values (correct)
  • To segregate students by ability
  • To prepare students for vocational training

How does Parsons define meritocracy in education?

  • A system that rewards individuals based on inherited traits
  • A structure based on universalistic standards applicable to everyone (correct)
  • An educational model focusing only on academic excellence
  • An approach that prioritizes family connections over individual effort

According to Davis and Moore, what role does education serve in society?

  • It creates a uniform workforce devoid of specialization
  • It allocates students to their future job roles based on ability (correct)
  • It provides a clear pathway for all individuals, regardless of ability
  • It guarantees job security for all graduates

What criticism does Wolf (2011) make regarding the functionalist perspective of education?

<p>Education fails to provide adequate specialist skills for the workforce (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Tumin's criticism of Davis and Moore's argument about education?

<p>It fails to recognize how jobs are valued based on their rewards (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Marxist perspectives argue about education in a capitalist society?

<p>It primarily transmits the ruling class's ideas rather than societal beliefs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the interactionist perspective, as described by Wrong (1961), suggest about the role of education?

<p>People completely accept the values taught by education without question (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of education according to functionalist perspectives?

<p>Promoting social equality for all (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Durkheim: Solidarity through Education

Education helps build a shared sense of values and beliefs within a society. It transmits these from one generation to the next, ensuring people feel connected and part of a larger community.

Durkheim: Skills for Work

Education prepares individuals for the workforce by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed for specific roles.

Parsons: Meritocracy and Education

Society operates on a system where individuals are rewarded based on their merit or achievement, rather than their background. Education plays a crucial role in this system, providing equal opportunities and a chance for everyone to succeed based on their effort.

Parsons: Education as a Bridge

Education is like a bridge, connecting the values and standards learned at home (particularistic) to the universal values and standards needed for wider society.

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Davis & Moore: Role Allocation

Education helps sort individuals into suitable roles based on their skills and talents. This ensures important jobs are filled by the most capable people.

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Tumin's Critique of Davis & Moore

The importance of a job is determined by its reward, and jobs are rewarded because they are important.

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Marxist Perspective on Education

Education in capitalist societies primarily transmits the values and ideologies of the ruling class, rather than the shared beliefs of society as a whole. This helps maintain inequality and the status quo.

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Interactionist Critique of Functionalism

Functionalism assumes that people passively accept and follow what they are taught, without challenging or questioning the values or beliefs presented in education.

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Study Notes

Sociological Perspectives on Education

  • Durkheim (Solidarity and Skills): Education creates a shared sense of community through common norms and values. Education prepares individuals for their roles in adult life. Schools act as miniature societies.
  • Parsons (Meritocracy): Education bridges the gap between family (particularistic standards) and wider society (universalistic standards). Education rewards individuals by merit and achievement, regardless of background attributes. This system assigns achieved status rather than ascribed status.
  • Davis and Moore (Role Allocation): Education filters individuals based on ability, creating a system where the most qualified fill the most important jobs. Inequality in education is necessary for a functional society.
  • Functionalism (Evaluation):
    • High-quality apprenticeships are rare and often do not lead to high-paying jobs, suggesting education doesn't provide sufficient skills.
    • Equal opportunities may not exist as achievement is based on factors like race, gender, and class, not ability.
    • The functionalist argument for why some jobs are higher is circular; they are considered important because they are highly rewarded and they are highly rewarded because they are important.
    • Criticisms: Marxists argue that education reflects the ruling class's values, while interactionists suggest that individuals passively accept societal teachings.
    • Further Criticisms: New Right and Neoliberal perspectives argue that the state education system inadequately prepares students for the workforce.

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