Role & Function of the Education System | Sociology for A Level - Year 13 PDF Download

Introduction

The Role and Function of the Education System
Functionalism posits that education serves the interests of society as a whole, whereas Marxists argue that it primarily benefits the ruling classes, and feminists contend that education predominantly advantages men.

• Different Views: Various sociological perspectives offer distinct interpretations of education’s role and purpose in society.
• Functionalists: Functionalists perceive education as an integral part of a broader societal framework.
• Marxists: Marxists view education as an instrument employed by the elite to exploit the working classes.
• Feminists: Feminists assert that education primarily upholds and reinforces patriarchal structures.

Functionalist Theories

Functionalist Theories on the Education System

Functionalists view education as a mechanism for preparing individuals to fulfill various roles in society.

Durkheim

• Émile Durkheim (1858–1917), a French sociologist, described schools as “socialization agencies” that teach children how to interact with others and prepare them for economic roles in adulthood (Durkheim 1898). 
• This process begins in preschool and kindergarten, where students learn to navigate societal roles.

Socialization

• Through socialization, schools impart the norms and rules of society. 
• They equip students with diverse skills for a varied workforce by allowing specialization, such as through subject choices at the GCSE level.

Social Placement

• Education serves as a key pathway for upward social mobility, a process known as social placement. 
• Schools and universities guide students toward their desired careers, facilitating socioeconomic advancement.

Secondary Functions

• Education also has unintended, secondary functions beyond formal learning. 
• For instance, interacting with a classmate you find attractive can teach interpersonal skills, such as the principles of courtship, which are not part of the curriculum.

Secondary Functions (Continued)

• Schools introduce students to social networks that can endure for years and aid in job placement after graduation. 
• Additionally, working in small groups at school fosters collaboration skills, which are valuable in workplaces but may not be developed in homeschooling environments.

Allocation Function

• Schools sort and classify students based on academic merit or potential through tests and classroom performance. 
• The most capable students are directed toward critical or demanding roles, a process called the allocation function. 
• Functionalists view this as fair, believing education operates as a meritocracy where equal opportunity and personal effort determine social status.

Criticisms of Functionalist Theories of Education

Functionalist theories suggest education benefits society as a whole, but Marxists argue it primarily serves the ruling classes, and feminists contend it mainly advantages men.

Determining Values

• Functionalists like Durkheim and Parsons assert that education promotes shared societal norms and values. 
• However, Marxists argue it primarily reinforces the values of dominant groups.

Hargreaves

• David Hargreaves (1982) critiques education for fostering competition and individualism rather than collective values, challenging the functionalist perspective.

Divisions

• While Durkheim claims education fosters social solidarity, it can also create divisions due to the hierarchical structure of schools and universities, which often segregate social classes.

Other Factors

• Functionalists argue that educational success is merit-based, but research shows that factors like social class, gender, and ethnicity also significantly impact achievement.

True Meritocracy?

• Functionalists Davis and Moore argue that education allocates the most suitable individuals to specific roles. 
• However, factors beyond qualifications, such as social connections, also influence job market outcomes, questioning the notion of a true meritocracy.

Marxist & Feminist Theories

Marxist Theories on Education

Marxists argue that education systems perpetuate social inequalities based on class, gender, race, and ethnicity, viewing education more critically than functionalists.

Bourdieu

• French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu examined how social class reproduction occurs through education. 
• His research focused on how cultural capital—knowledge and skills that aid in navigating a culture—shapes opportunities for French students from varying social classes.

Bourdieu - Formal Curricula

• Upper and middle-class families typically possess greater cultural capital than lower-class families. 
• Consequently, the educational system often rewards the dominant culture’s values. 
• Formal curricula and assessments tend to favor these values, making it challenging for students from other social classes to connect with material outside their cultural context.

Social Class Reproduction - Hidden Curriculum

• The hidden curriculum—nonacademic knowledge gained through informal learning and cultural transmission—further entrenches inequalities. Marxists argue it reinforces the advantages of those with higher cultural capital, perpetuating unequal social status.

Setting/Streaming

• Marxists critique setting and streaming, where students are grouped by ability, as exacerbating inequalities. 
• While teachers may claim these practices benefit students through tailored instruction and peer similarity, Marxists argue they create self-fulfilling prophecies. 
• Students internalize societal and teacher expectations, performing according to these preconceived notions (Education Week, 2004).

Training

• Marxists view schools as training working-class students to accept their lower societal roles. They argue that wealthier students access better resources, reinforcing disparities compared to students in less affluent areas (Lauren and Tyson, 2008).

Liberal, Radical, and Marxist Feminist Views of Education

Feminists see gender norms as socially constructed, not biological, with patriarchy as the primary driver of gender inequality. They view education as a mechanism that reinforces these disparities.

Liberal Feminists

• Liberal feminists argue that gender inequality harms everyone and that the education system socializes young people into rigid gender roles. They advocate for reforms within existing structures, such as legal changes, to address these issues.

Radical Feminists

• Radical feminists view society as a patriarchy where men dominate, imposing laws and norms on women. 
• They see education as perpetuating gender differences through rigid role enforcement. 
• Some radical feminists advocate for women’s superiority and call for dismantling the current system.

Marxist Feminists

• Marxist feminists identify capitalism, not patriarchy, as the root of women’s oppression. 
• They argue the education system prepares women to serve as unpaid labor (e.g., caregiving, raising families) to support capitalism’s workforce needs. 
• They believe gender equality requires a revolutionary overhaul of the economic system to redistribute wealth.

The New Right

The New Right Perspective on Education

The New Right, also referred to as neo-liberals or market liberals, advocate for reduced government involvement in sectors like education, favoring a greater role for market forces.

Market Forces

• The New Right holds that private enterprise, driven by competition among businesses, is the most effective way to deliver services. 
• They argue that state-run services, such as education, are often inefficient due to a lack of competition, which reduces the incentive for service providers to perform efficiently.

Competition

• According to the New Right, state education lacks responsiveness to its users because it does not operate on a customer payment model.
• They emphasize that competition is crucial for improving standards, which in turn produces a more skilled workforce that enhances economic productivity.

Changes

• The New Right views the primary purpose of education as preparing individuals for the workforce, with a strong focus on vocational training to meet this goal.

Influences UK

The New Right has significantly shaped UK education policy by promoting:

• Greater school autonomy through initiatives like academies and free schools.
• Increased parental choice and competition among schools, facilitated by mechanisms such as league tables and school marketing.