A Level Sociology

Education

Topic 1

The Role of Education

(Inc. Postmodernism and Feminism)

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Introduction to the unit:

This unit forms the paper 1 exam along with research methods which we will cover later. The education section of the paper will consist of the following questions:

Outline (4)

Outline (6)

Applying information from the Item, analyse (10)

Applying material from the Item and your knowledge, evaluate (30)

Sociologists are interested in four key areas of education:

1. What is the role and purpose of education and who benefits?

2. Why do some pupils achieve more than others?

3. How do pupils experience schooling and why do boys and girls choose different subjects?

4. What is the impact of the policies and laws that the government make? Do they produce equal opportunities for all?

Objectives:

Know the functions of education that functionalists identify Understand the neo liberal and New Right views of the role of the market in

education Understand different Marxist views of the role of education Be able to evaluate the functionalist, neoliberal and New Right and Marxist

views of the role of education

What is the purpose of education?

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Record your ideas below:

AO2 Application: Using your prior knowledge! Can you apply any of your ideas to either Functionalism or Marxism? Use the space below.

Functionalism: Marxism:

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Purpose of Education

The Functionalist Perspective on Education:

Recap on Functionalism:

Key Word Meaning Apply to education?Norms

Organic Analogy

Secondary Socialisation

Primary Socialisation

Social solidarity

Value Consensus

Role Allocation

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Durkheim: Durkheim (1903) argues that society needs a sense of solidarity and that its individual members must feel that they belong to community. He argues that without social solidarity, social life and cooperation would be impossible because each individual would pursue their own selfish desires.

The education system helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture from one generation to the next. Durkheim uses the example of teaching a country’s history to instil a sense of shared heritage.

AO2 Application: Can you think of other ways in which schools create social solidarity?

Durkheim also argues that school is something of a ‘society in miniature’ preparing us for wider society later on.

AO2 Application: How does school prepare us for wider society?

Additionally, Durkheim argues that modern industrial economies have a complex division of labour, where the production of a single item usually involves the co-operation of many different specialists. This co-operation also promotes social solidarity, but for it to be successful each person involved must have the necessary specialist knowledge and skills. Education teaches the knowledge and skills needed for individuals to play their part in society.

Parsons:Parsons (1961) draws upon many of Durkheim’s ideas. He sees school as a ‘focal socialisation agency’ which acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. Within the family children are judged by particularistic standards (rules that only apply to that child) whereas at school children are judged by the same universalistic standards (rules that apply to all)

AO2 Application: Can you use the table below to provide examples?

Particularistic standards Universalistic standards

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Parsons sees school as preparing us to move into wider society because both school and society, he argues, are ‘meritocratic.’ This means that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed and rewards are based upon talent and ability.

What evidence is there to suggest that school and society are meritocratic?

AO3 Evaluation: Stretch yourself:

How could we criticise this view? Are all students really rewarded based upon their own talent and ability?

If not, then why not? Can you provide examples?

Davis and Moore

Functionalists Davis and Moore argue that schools perform the function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles. By assessing individual’s aptitudes and abilities schools help to match them to the job that they are best suited to. Davis and Moore argue that inequality is needed for society to function effectively. Not everyone is equally talented and as a society, we need the most able performing roles such as a surgeon or an airline pilot. Society also has to offer higher rewards for these roles so more people compete for them.

Similarly Blau and Duncan (1978) argue that for its prosperity, the modern economy depends on using its ‘human capital.’ Ie its workers’ skills.

Evaluation of the Functionalist perspective:

Functionalism is useful because… Functionalism is not useful because…

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Neo Liberalism and the New Right perspective on Education: Neo Liberalism is an economic doctrine that has had major influence on economic policy. Neoliberals argue that the state should not provide services such as education, health and welfare. Neoliberals have influenced all governments since 1979. Whether Conservative, Labour or Coalition. Neoliberalism is based on the idea that the state must not dictate to individuals how to dispose of their own property and should not try to regulate a free market economy. Governments should encourage competition and privatise state run services.

The New Right:The New Right is a conservative political view that incorporates neoliberal economic ideas. The central principle of new right thinking is that the state cannot meet people’s needs and they are best left to meet their own needs. The state should have minimal involvement and individuals should take responsibility for themselves. Therefore they favour the Marketisation of education. That is creating an education market where schools compete for pupils and funding, the idea being that it will raise standards in education. More later….

Chubb and MoeChubb and Moe argue that in the US state run education has failed because:

It has not created equal opportunities and failed the needs of disadvantaged groups It is inefficient because it fails to produce pupils with the skills needed for the economy Private schools deliver high quality education because unlike state schools, they are

answerable to paying consumers

Reading page 69 of the textbook answer the following questions:

1. What did Chubb and Moe base their arguments on?

2. What does their evidence show?

3. Based on their findings, what did Chubb and Moe call for?

4. What did their proposed system entail?

5. In what ways might this system actually increase inequality?

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Whilst the New Right stress the importance of market forces in education they do see a role for the state. The state imposes a framework on schools within which they have to compete, for example Ofsted and league tables. The state also transmits a shared culture by imposing a national curriculum.

Stretch yourself:

Research ‘British values’ in education. Record the ways in which it may be transmitted through the education system.

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The Marxist Perspective on Education:

Recap on Marxism:

Key Word Meaning: Apply to Education?Bourgeoisie

Proletariat

Ideology

Capitalism

Conflict

Exploitation

Marxism is a conflict theory

• It sees education and other social institutions as only benefitting the capitalist class

• It teaches children to accept hierarchy and inequality – ‘the boss of you!’

• It is NOT the meritocratic institution functionalists say it is.

Education produces a compliant workforce, indoctrinated the values of obedience and hard work prepared for the boredom and lack of fulfilment later in life. It also reproduces class inequalities and transmits the ‘myth of meritocracy.’ An illusion that hard work and effort pays off and that failure of working class pupils is due to lack of effort.

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Althusser: Education as an ideological state apparatus

Marxists see the state as means by which the capitalist ruling class maintain their dominant position. Althusser (1971) argues the state consists of two elements or ‘apparatuses.’

The repressive state apparatus (RSA) control through force such as the army and the police. The ideological state apparatus (ISA) control over ideas, values and beliefs through

institutions such as the media and education

Rather than transmitting a shared culture, as argued by functionalists such as Durkheim, education transmits class inequality from generation to generation. Education justifies class inequality by producing ideologies that persuade pupils that inequality is inevitable. The HIDDEN curriculum teaches pupils to respect authority and become an obedient workforce The OFFICIAL curriculum transmits the idea that capitalism is fair.

AO2 Application: Stretch yourself… How does education transmit these ideologies? Provide examples.

How does this benefit capitalism?

Bowles and Gintis:

These American Marxists develop Althusser’s ideas further. They argue that capitalism requires a workforce with the kinds of attitudes, behaviour and personality type suited to their role as alienated and exploited workers.

From their own study of 237 New York high schools Bowles and Gintis conclude that schools reward exactly the kind of personality traits that make for a submissive, compliant worker. Schooling helps to produce obedient workers that capitalism needs.

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The Correspondence Principle:

Bowles and Gintis also argue that school mirrors the work place. Come up with three ways that school mirrors the work place and record them in the table:

School Workplace

Willis: Learning to Labour

All Marxists agree that capitalism cannot function without a workforce that is willing to accept exploitation. Likewise all Marxists see education as reproducing and legitimating class inequality. (ensuring WC pupils are slotted into poorly paid jobs) Paul Willis shows that working class pupils can resist attempts to indoctrinate them. Willis is interested in the way schools serves capitalism. However he combines this with an interactionist approach that focuses on the meanings pupils give to their actions.

The lads counter culture:

Willis used a combination of unstructured interviews and observations to study ‘the lads.’ These ‘lads’ formed a distinct ‘counterculture’ opposed to the school:

The Lads The ear ‘olesOppose school

Take ‘the piss’ out of girls and the ear ‘oles

School is boring and meaningless

Drink, smoke and play truant

The conformists

Do as teachers say

Listen to teachers

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By resisting school they slot into inferior and unskilled jobs. They are used to boredom and lack of fulfilment and will find ways to entertain themselves anyway. However… by rejecting school this ensures that ‘the lads’ end up in jobs that capitalists need them to anyway!!

Marxism is useful because… Marxism is not useful because…

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Stretch yourself with Postmodernism….

The correspondence principle states how school mirrors the workplace. Capitalism requires low skilled workers willing to put up with alienating work on mass production assembly lines. This system is often called ‘Fordism’ because the Ford Motor Company was the first to introduce it. Bowles and Gintis see education as preparing pupils to accept this work.

However Postmodernists argue that the Marxist view is outdated. They claim society has entered a new postmodern phase where class divisions are no longer important. Society is much more diverse and fragmented and the economy is now based on ‘flexible specialisation’ where production is customised for small niche markets. This Post-Fordist system requires a skilled adaptable workforce able to use advanced technology.

Post Fordism calls for a different kind of education system that encourages self-motivation and creativity. It must also provide lifelong retraining due to rapid technological growth.

Education is now more diverse and responsive to the needs of individuals and the correspondence principle no longer operates.

1. Explain the difference between Fordism and Post Fordism

2. Why do Postmodernists argue that Post Fordism needs a different education system from that described by the correspondence principle?

Education has changed over time and now includes a wide variety of options, from A Levels to BTEC and CTEC there are a diverse range of qualifications that pupils, college students and university students can take. Lifelong learning is a term that is often used to encourage people of all ages to remain educated and to keep up to date with the rapid technological growth of a Post-Fordist society. Most employers will also have work based training such as NVQs. Additionally, there is now a wide range of different types of school for pupils to attend including academies, free schools and UTCs

For a Postmodernist this simply reflects the changing nature of society, just has society has become fragmented so has the education system and this reflects the needs of individuals. In 1997 when Tony Blair came into power he said he would invest heavily in creating more diversity and choice in

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education, for example, Curriculum 2000. This shows that policy can also reflect these postmodern views.

1. Since the coalition government replaced the New Labour one what changes have we seen which would seem to go against Postmodernist views of increasing diversity and choice in education?

2. Is it really plausible to say class no longer matters?

3. Can you think of any ways in which certain types of qualification taken may create divides?

4. Are all of these new types of schools successful?

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In what ways has there been a march

of progress?

Feminist perspectives of education:

Feminists recognise that there has been a march of progress in education.

However, rather than its primary function being either to serve capitalism (Marxism) or to create social solidarity (functionalism) it exists to reinforce gender roles and maintain patriarchy.

AO2 Application: How does education prepare girls and boys for their future gender roles?

Early socialisation shapes children’s gender identity. Fiona Norman notes, from an early age boys and girls are dressed differently and encouraged to play with masculine toys. Schools play an important part in this. Byrne (1979) shows that teachers encourage boys to be tough and show initiative whereas girls are expected to be quiet, helpful, clean and tidy.

Additionally, there are double standards on sexual morality in which boys boast about their sexual exploits but girls get called slags if they don’t have a steady boyfriend or if they dress or speak a certain way. The male gaze is also a term used to describe how male teachers and pupils look girls up and down seeing them as sexual objects Feminists argue that this is a patriarchal ideology that justifies male power and devalues women. This is a kind of social control that keeps women subordinate to men.

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Use the table below to develop further the hint you have already been given. Show your ‘chain of reasoning.’

Functionalism To benefit society

Neoliberalism and the New Right

To benefit society by producing skilled workers for the future through an education market.

Marxism To benefit capitalism

Postmodernism To meet a range of diverse and individual needs

Feminism To maintain patriarchy

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Key concepts:Secondary socialisation

Role allocation

Meritocracy

Official curriculum

Hidden curriculum

Social solidarity

Myth of Meritocracy

Ideological stateapparatus

Repressive state Apparatus

Correspondence principle

Ideology

Fordism

Post Fordism

Patriarchy

The male gaze

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Topic summary:

Functionalists take a ………………………. view. They see education as performing three important functions –……………………………… into the shared culture, equipping individuals with specialist work skills for the division of labour and selection for work roles. Education is organised on ………………………………. principles.

The New Right and neoliberals take a …………………………… view. They believe education can only perform its role effectively if it is organised on ………………….. principles rather than run by the state.

Marxists take a class conflict approach. They see education as serving the needs of ………………………………. Education is an ideological state apparatus that reproduces and legitimates class inequality through the …………………………………. principle and myth of meritocracy. Although pupils resist indoctrination, their counter school culture may actually prepare them for unskilled labour.

……………………………………. argue that the economy has become post-Fordist and education is becoming more diverse and flexible.

meritocratic conservative Socialisation consensus

Postmodernists correspondence market capitalism

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Quick check questions:

1. Explain the term ascribed status

2. Explain what is meant by particularistic standards

3. Identify two ways in which New Right ideas are similar to those of functionalists

4. Explain what Bowles and Gintis mean by the correspondence principle

5. What does Willis discuss?

6. Explain the difference between Fordism and post-Fordism

7. Give two criticisms of Marxist theories

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Exam questions:

Outline two functions that education performs according to functionalists (4 marks)

Outline two ways in which schools help to promote social solidarity (4 marks)

Outline two ways in which the correspondence principle operates within schools (4 marks)

Outline two functions education performs according to Marxists (4 marks)

Outline three ways in which the functions of the education system may affect pupils’ educational achievement (6 marks)

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Outline three ways education functions to benefit the ruling class in society (6 marks)

Item A

According to Marx, capitalism is based on the ownership of the means of production by a wealthy minority. Capitalism continues to exist because each new generation of workers is forced to undertake low-paid, alienating work to survive. This makes capitalism potentially unstable, since it depends on the proletariat not seeking to overthrow this unequal system.

Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the education system might serve the needs of capitalism (10 marks)

Point one

Point two

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Item A

Education performs many important functions within society.

Some argue that the most important function is to prepare individuals for work. Whereas others argue that the aim of education is to bring people together.

Applying material from item A, analyse two functions that education may perform (10 marks)

Point one

Point two

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Item B

Sociologists argue that education transmits ideas and values. However they disagree about the nature of these ideas and values, and who benefits from this process. For example, Feminists argue that education transmits patriarchal ideology, and that benefits men.

Other sociologists argue that the education system has become fragmented and transmits a diverse range of ideas and values.

Applying material from item B and your own knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of the role of education in transmitting ideas and values (30)

Intro

P1

P2

P3

P4

P5

P6

Conclusions

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Item B

Functionalists take a consensus view. They see education as performing key functions for society. This includes socialising individuals in to a shared collective culture and giving individuals the specialist skills needed for the economy.

Others take a conflict approach. These sociologists believe that education serves the needs of capitalism above all else.

Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the functionalist view of the role of education (30 marks)

Intro

P1

P2

P3

P4

P5

P6

Conclusions

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Independent Study Checklist:

Activity Tick when doneComplete an A3 revision sheet for this topic

Create revision cards/key cards for the concepts in this topic

Read the Sociological Review article ‘Cultural capital’ and ‘Marxism and education today’ and create factsheets with key notes on – use the subheadings to help guide the key information

Create a student friendly mark scheme for the 10 mark education question ‘Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the education system might serve the needs of capitalism (10 marks)’

Create a quiz on Kahoot or quizlett for this topic

Create a key factsheet for each of the main theories – Functionalism, Marxism, New Right, Postmodernism, Feminism

For more resources and articles see: www.aqusociology.weebly.com

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