The purpose and challenges of Education 8.2 and 8.3 Essential Questions: How do functionalists view the purpose of education What differences are there between traditional and progressive philosophies of education?

Functionalism What is it? School of thought, analyzes how parts of society work together to achieve stability Functionalists see school as... 4 function: teaching knowledge and skills, facilitating the cultural transmission of values, facilitating social integration, replacing functions no longer provided by family

Knowledge& Skills AND cultural values Reading, writing, arithmetic and computer skills. Cultural: Passing on society’s core values Functionalists say that the latent function of education is to further dominance of western culture......individualism, patriotism and competition(examples?)

Social Integration Helping students socialize into mainstream culture When kids first come to school they bring own speech patterns, style, behaviour from family BUT exposure to peers and school changes them into a more cohesive group According to functionalists, if people believe their society’s institutions are the basis of welfare, they will have little reason to rebel.

Replacing Family Functions Families have two-wage earners, child care is a manifest function of school Sex education Role of confidant and advisor

Conflict Perspective Society is composed of groups fiercely competing for scarce resources Say that education system is a tool used by those in power to control society and maintain dominance These sociologists say school has a hidden curriculum of... Teach students work habits and values to work for the elite

Maintaining Class Structure Conflict theorists believe that forces behind the classroom promote the interest of society’s elite and perpetuate social-class divisions Regardless of ability, children from wealthier families are university bound, less wealthy-vocational programs Sociologists Henslin&Nelson(1996) stated that people with higher educations earn more money and patterns of inequality reproduce

Activity: Worksheet Complete the Worksheet, it should be used as a study tool! Always remember to add terms to your vocabulary sheet.