1. Sociological Approaches to Education
Functionalist - Durkheim

2. Functionalism looks at society as if it were a human body
Every part of the body has a function which helps keep it alive and healthy
Every part of society helps to keep society going
All the parts of the body link together into one big system
All of the parts of society work together and are dependent on each other – they are interdependent.
Education is an important part of how society functions

3. Functionalist Approach
Emile Durkheim, one of the founding fathers of Sociology and a key Functionalist thinker believed that;
All institutions of society exist because they have useful functions, contributing to the general good.
Education had an important role in the socialisation of children into key cultural values such as social solidarity

4. Value Consensus
According to Durkheim, one of the main purposes of education should be to socialise children into the norms and values agreed by society – the value consensus.
Instead of following their own impulses, children must learn self-restraint, fit in with the behaviour patterns of others and accept the discipline imposed by the school.
“To act morally is to act in terms of the collective interest”

5. Education and Inequality
Durkheim acknowledged that inequalities in society exist but viewed this as inevitable.
Some students would be more academically successful than others and this would lead to different careers and levels of wealth but all had their roles to play.
It was better for many people to accept their limits and lowly roles and contribute to the greater good of society.

6. Social Solidarity
Durkheim stressed that the chief role of education should be to encourage in children a sense of social solidarity, a feeling of identification with the group and responsibility toward others.
This was particularly important in modern, industrialised societies where rapid changes were thrusting people from different backgrounds together and religion was becoming less influential in binding society.

7. Evaluation
Are Durkheim’s views relevant today? Look at the work of David Hargreaves.
What about the inevitability of social inequality? Should schools accept or challenge inequality?
Durkheim’s work is described as taking a structuralist approach. Why?