Education – A Functionalist Perspective Functionalists argue that education has 3 broad functions: 1. Socialisation – Education helps to maintain society by socialising young people into key cultural values, such as achievement, individualism, competition, equality of opportunity, social solidarity, democracy and religious morality. 2. Skills provision – Education teaches the skills required by modern industrial society. These may be general skills that everyone needs (such as literacy and numeracy), or the skills needed for particular occupations. 3. Role allocation – Education allocates people into the most appropriate job for their talents, using examinations and qualifications. This is seen as fair as there is equality of opportunity – everyone has the chance to achieve success in society on the basis of their ability.

Education – A Functionalist Perspective Emile Durkheim, who is often regarded as the founder of functionalist thought, viewed education as a vehicle by which norms and values are passed on. Therefore, education has the effect of integrating individuals into society – thus encouraging social order through a values consensus.

Education – A Functionalist Perspective Talcott Parsons developed Durkheim’s functionalist ideas. He describes school in the context of it being a bridge between the family and adult roles within society. Schools transmit the universal value of achievement. It does this because it is meritocratic – the ‘best’ students rise to the top. Parsons agrees with Durkheim in that education helps people agree about norms and values.

Education – A Functionalist Perspective Davis and Moore (1945) suggest that society sorts its members into different positions. They argued that there are rules about how education does this – the ‘principles of stratification’. They believe that there has to be a system of unequal rewards (more money or higher status) in order to motivate people to train for the top positions.

Education – A Functionalist Perspective Meritocracy A Meritocracy is when social rewards are allocated by talent and effort rather than because of a position someone was born into. Talent + motivation + equal opportunity = qualifications and a high position in society.

Education – Criticisms of Functionalism Is education meritocratic? Is ‘what you know’ really more important than ‘who you know’? Does education really prepare people for the work? Do functionalist theories about education explain how it may serve the needs of a particular group in terms of ideology and values?