Transcript Functionalism and Education Durkheim

Functionalism and
Education
Durkheim
Functionalist research into education has been motivated
by two main questions.
1. What are the functions of
education for society as a
whole?
 How does it fit in with the
social solidarity of society as a
whole?
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2.
What is the functional relationship
between education and other
parts of the social system?
 This links to the relationship of
education to the economic system
and how this helps to integrate
society as a whole.
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Functionalism - as you would
expect - focuses on the positive
contributions that education makes to
society.
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Here are some quotes …
‘The function of education is to
transmit society’s norms and
values’ - Emile Durkheim.
 ‘Society can only survive if
there exists among its
members a sufficient degree of
homogeneity; education
perpetuates and reinforces this
homogeneity’. Emile Durkheim.
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It is by respecting the school
rules that the child learns to
respect rules in general’.
Emile Durkheim.
Education is needed in a modern
industrial society
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Because of the complex division of labour that such
societies have.
The skills needed for a specialised work-force cannot
be taught by the family.
The social solidarity of modern society is based upon
the interdependence of specialised skills.
Schools provide the homogeneity through the
transmission of general values and also specific skills
needed for co-operative behaviour.
This is called unity based on value consensus e.g.
rules on property rights; and the promotion of a
specialised labour market the members of which
combine to produce goods and services.
School serves as a function which cannot be
provided by peer group or by family.
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To have friends you make personal choice; to
belong to a family is based on kinship.
Being a member of a society is based on neither of
these principles.
People in society need to co-operate with people
who are neither their kin nor their friends.
School provides the context by which these skills
can be learnt.
It is a society in miniature.
Interaction is needed with other people following the
rules of the institution.
This is preparation for adult integration into full
membership of society.
Example – but not followed by
all American States anymore
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America. And to
the Republic, for which it stands,
one nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
Talcott Parsons 1902-1979
Writing in the 1950’s this functionalist
sociologist has been the representative for
education views.
 He argued that the school, after the
family, takes on the role of the ‘focal
socialising agency’.
 School acts as bridge between the family
and society as a whole.
 In a family the child is judged against
particular standards whereas in society the
child is set against universalistic
standards.
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and
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A child’s status is ascribed in that it is fixed by birth; in
modern societies status is largely achieved.
The usual example being occupational status.
School begins this process by providing universalistic
standards for children to achieve their status.
Conduct is measured against school rules; their
achievement against performance in tests. This is
applied to all regardless of background.
This is referred to as a meritocracy - success is
achieved through individual merit.
This compares equally with Emile Durkheim’s view on
the school being society in miniature.
Industrial society rewards its people according to
achievement rather than to an ascribed status.
[Achieved v. Ascribed status]
The Value System
Schools socialise into the basic value of society. In the USA the
two most important value that education instills is:
1. The value of achievement
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2. The value of equal opportunities.
 This is important in an industrial society when a highly
motivated achievement orientated workforce is required.
Everybody perceives it as fair even the losers as it is based
on meritocracy.
 How does this compare to the UK system?
 Are we at the same point or, moving towards it?
 Selection
 Parsons also identified education as a way towards selection
of individuals for their future role in society. Human
resources are allocated roles and therefore education is
involved in role allocation - matching occupations to talents.
Criticisms
Do schools transmit values of society or
the values of the ruling classes?
 Are schools truly meritocratic?
Kingsley Davis & W.E. Moore - role
allocation 1945 and 1967
 The education system sifts, sorts and
grades individuals in terms of their
talents and abilities - it rewards the
most talented with occupations that are
functionally more important in society.
End
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