Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is one function of education according to Durkheim?
What is one function of education according to Durkheim?
Parsons believed that education applies particularistic values to all students equally.
Parsons believed that education applies particularistic values to all students equally.
False
What do Davis and Moore argue is the role of education in society?
What do Davis and Moore argue is the role of education in society?
Education allocates individuals to roles based on merit.
According to Bernstein, working-class students use a ______ code of language.
According to Bernstein, working-class students use a ______ code of language.
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Match the theorists with their perspectives on education:
Match the theorists with their perspectives on education:
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What criticism do Marxists have about the meritocratic view of education?
What criticism do Marxists have about the meritocratic view of education?
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The New Right perspective advocates for schools to function as non-profit organizations.
The New Right perspective advocates for schools to function as non-profit organizations.
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What is meant by the 'hidden curriculum' in the context of education?
What is meant by the 'hidden curriculum' in the context of education?
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Which of the following is NOT a key aim of equality policies?
Which of the following is NOT a key aim of equality policies?
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Cultural deprivation includes factors like family structures and language barriers.
Cultural deprivation includes factors like family structures and language barriers.
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What did the 1944 Education Act introduce?
What did the 1944 Education Act introduce?
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Teachers may create pupil identities based on __________, reinforcing existing stereotypes.
Teachers may create pupil identities based on __________, reinforcing existing stereotypes.
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Match the following policies to their key features:
Match the following policies to their key features:
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What is one consequence of racism in wider society on education?
What is one consequence of racism in wider society on education?
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Private education helps to reduce the educational achievement gap between different social classes.
Private education helps to reduce the educational achievement gap between different social classes.
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What is the English Baccalaureate?
What is the English Baccalaureate?
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High levels of __________ can impact housing and educational resources, leading to material deprivation.
High levels of __________ can impact housing and educational resources, leading to material deprivation.
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Which of the following is a key aspect of equality in educational policies?
Which of the following is a key aspect of equality in educational policies?
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What is the main focus of the Labelling Theory in education?
What is the main focus of the Labelling Theory in education?
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Gilborn and Youdell found that Black students are often given higher expectations from teachers than their white counterparts.
Gilborn and Youdell found that Black students are often given higher expectations from teachers than their white counterparts.
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Who conducted research indicating that girls' ambitions shifted from prioritizing marriage to valuing careers?
Who conducted research indicating that girls' ambitions shifted from prioritizing marriage to valuing careers?
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According to cultural deprivation theory, working-class students often lack the necessary _______ that is valuable in education.
According to cultural deprivation theory, working-class students often lack the necessary _______ that is valuable in education.
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Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
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Which of the following factors is associated with boys' underachievement?
Which of the following factors is associated with boys' underachievement?
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Girls generally outperform boys in educational settings.
Girls generally outperform boys in educational settings.
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What term describes the financial hardships that limit working-class students' educational resources?
What term describes the financial hardships that limit working-class students' educational resources?
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According to Bourdieu, there are three types of capital: economic, social, and ______.
According to Bourdieu, there are three types of capital: economic, social, and ______.
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What impact do equal opportunities policies have on gender in education?
What impact do equal opportunities policies have on gender in education?
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Labeling students positively can lead to negative self-fulfilling prophecies.
Labeling students positively can lead to negative self-fulfilling prophecies.
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Name one characteristic of the working-class subculture regarding education.
Name one characteristic of the working-class subculture regarding education.
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Boys are often negatively labeled as ________ and less academically capable.
Boys are often negatively labeled as ________ and less academically capable.
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Match the type of capital with its description:
Match the type of capital with its description:
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Study Notes
Functions of Education
- Durkheim argues education creates social solidarity by promoting shared values and a sense of belonging. It equips individuals with workforce skills, fostering a productive society.
- Parsons posits education bridges the family's particularistic values (individualized) with society's universalistic values (applied equally).
- Davis and Moore suggest education allocates individuals to roles based on merit, placing the most talented in crucial societal positions.
- Marxists critique the meritocratic view, asserting private schools favor the wealthy, exacerbating inequality.
New Right Perspectives
- New Right advocates for schools operating like businesses, competing for students and offering desirable services.
- The New Right influenced UK Conservative governments (1979-1997), leading to league tables enabling parental school comparisons.
- Marxist critics argue league tables disproportionately benefit middle- and upper-class families, perpetuating inequality.
Marxist Perspectives
- Althusser views education as an "ideological state apparatus," reproducing class inequalities by transmitting capitalist values, creating false consciousness.
- Bowles and Gintis' correspondence principle highlights school-work similarities, emphasizing conformity, obedience, and hierarchy, preparing students for capitalism.
- The hidden curriculum emphasizes the informal, unspoken lessons learned in school (e.g., punctuality, conformity, obedience).
Roles and Processes in School
- Bernstein explains working-class students use a "restricted code," while middle-class students use an "elaborated code," impacting curriculum understanding and engagement.
- Lacey's study of grammar schools reveals how bright students in lower streams form anti-school subcultures due to perceived failure.
- Willis's research highlights working-class boys forming subcultures valuing "laddishness" and rejecting academic success.
- Fuller's study of Black girls, forming an anti-school subculture yet achieving high grades, challenges the negative label effect.
- Labelling Theory posits assigned labels can become self-fulfilling prophecies, influencing behavior and achievement.
- Gilborn and Youdell's work shows Black students face disproportionate discipline and lower teacher expectations.
- Discussions on boys and masculinity highlight negative labeling as disruptive and less academically capable.
- Rist's study demonstrates teachers judging student ability based on social class, not academic merit.
Class and Internal Factors
- Labelling and self-fulfilling prophecies arise from teacher judgments based on perceived student abilities, affecting students' fulfillment of those expectations.
- Setting and streaming segregate students by perceived ability, reinforcing existing social inequalities.
- Pupil subcultures represent groups sharing behaviors and values distinct from mainstream school culture.
- Pupil class identity emerges through educational experiences, shaping a sense of social class.
Class and External Factors
- Cultural deprivation limits working-class students' access to cultural capital (e.g., language, attitudes, knowledge) valued in education.
- Parental education influences parental involvement in a child's education, given their own educational experiences.
- Working-class subcultures often prioritize immediate gratification, potentially affecting educational motivation.
- Material deprivation restricts working-class families' resources, leading to negative impacts on housing, nutrition, health care, and educational support.
- Bourdieu identified three capitals: economic, social, and cultural. Middle-class students usually possess more cultural capital, translating to better grades and job prospects.
- Sullivan's research suggests cultural capital influences achievement but isn't the sole factor in working-class underachievement.
Gender and Internal Factors
- Girls consistently outperform boys in education.
- Equal opportunities policies promote gender equality in education, impacting girls' success.
- Female role models in the workforce encourage girls' ambition and career prospects.
- Increasing coursework in GCSEs better suits girls' learning styles, contributing to their success.
- Teachers' positive attitudes toward girls often lead to positive self-fulfilling prophecies.
Gender and External Factors
- Shifting societal attitudes, influenced by feminist campaigning, empower girls to aspire beyond traditional gender roles.
- Changing family structures, with more women as breadwinners, impact girls' ambitions and career paths.
- Increasing numbers of women in full-time employment and leadership roles affect societal views on gender roles.
- Sue Sharpe's research highlights evolving girls' ambitions; from family and marriage in the 1970s to careers and later family in the 1990s.
- League table pressure can lead schools to prioritize recruiting girls due to better grades.
Gender and Educational Achievement
- ... (Existing information)
Factors Affecting Male Achievement
- ... (Existing information)
Subject Choice and Gender Roles
- A persistent gender gap in subject choices exists, with girls favoring languages and humanities, and boys leaning toward science and technology.
- Gender role socialization influences subject selection, encouraging stereotyped choices based on perceived gender norms.
- Cory suggests perceived feminine/masculine subjects impact subject selection, impacting choices.
- Gender identity influences subject choice, independent of biological sex, as noted by exploration in Scouting and Powell's research.
Ethnicity and Educational Achievement
- ... (Existing information).
Equality Policies
- ... (Existing information).
Private Education
- Private schools often perpetuate "old boy networks," favoring wealthy families' social connections and career opportunities.
- Private education intensifies social class achievement gaps, as working-class families may lack financial access.
- While some debate the quality of private school teaching, smaller class sizes and greater resources generally lead to higher student achievements.
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Description
This quiz explores various perspectives on the functions of education, including Durkheim, Parsons, Davis and Moore, and Marxist critiques. It also addresses the New Right's influence on educational practices and policies in the UK. Test your knowledge on these important sociological theories!
