Compare, Contrast and Evaluate the Sociological Perspectives on the Ro

Functionalism views society as the stability and assimilation of a range of forces that function within it. While society is a separate entity with a life of its own, there are individual elements contributing to that stability. Functionalism as a sociological theory emphasizes assimilation rather than the dissociation of society. Therefore, the society is seen as a whole that is compromised of parts which give one another their identity and their function. The part, whether that is education, such as a school, or sports, such as a football team, operates in relation to the other parts, and cannot be entirely understood in isolation from the other parts. All the parts are interrelated, and when there is a disturbance in any one of the

However functionalists believe that the education institution is there and built for a reason, that it affects and benefits both the

In this essay I am going to firstly differentiate between ‘common sense’ and sociological explanations of everyday life. Explaining what they mean and how they differ. I will then be looking in detail at two Sociological theories - Functionalism and Marxism. Firstly I am going to talk about both functionalist and marxists theories of society and how they believe it functions. After which I have chosen to look at the structure of education and will explain each of the theories views as to why it exists in society. I will then evaluate the two theories views on Education.

Functionalism is based on the view that society is a system of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture or value consensus (agreement) amongst individuals as to what values or norms are important in society. Therefore they take a positive view of the education system. As item A suggests they see it as a form of secondary socialism essential to maintaining society i.e. the values and norms transmitted by social institutions and groups which build upon those learnt in the family (primary socialism).

The neo-Marxist Althusser (1971) disagrees that the main function of the education is the transmission of common values. He thinks that education is an ideological state apparatus and its main function is to maintain, Legitimate and reproduce, generation by generation, class inequalities in wealth and power by transmitting capitalist values disguised as common values.

Functionalists view the role of education as a means of socialising individuals and to integrate society, to keep society running smoothly and remain stable. Emile Durkheim, creator of the Organic Analogy, was a functionalist during the 1870 's. Durkheim believes that society can only survive if its members are committed to common social values and that

Functionalism is one of the three systematic schools of thought alongside structuralism and behaviourism. Its main focus revolves around the functioning of the mind and its usage by organisms to help adapt to new environments. Functionalists study the collective mental processes & functions that lead to pragmatic consequences in the world (Baker et al, 2009).

Functionalism believes that each part of society works in its own way and that the whole is interrelated so that one feeds into the other and the whole works together harmoniously as a unit. The government, for instance, provides education and libraries for its citizens and citizens, in turn, pay taxes to the government so that the whole country profits. Schools provide education for children, and families depend upon schools to provide education so that children will become employable. The children, in turn, become literate, law-abiding citizens who grow up to become productive citizens in their won way. In this way, each segment of society interacts to work together as a cohesive whole providing stability and productivity.

I find that functionalists tend to perform several functions to society. They like to socialize their children

The functionalist perspective according to The Three Main Sociological Perspectives is, “society is a system of interconnected parts that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole.” This means that society as a whole works together to serve a purpose. The origin of this perspective is from a French sociologist, Emile Durkheim. An example of this perspective functionalist is when parents believe that the government’s purpose it to provide education for their kids and that parents would then pay their taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running in return. Another example is that the judicial systems help maintain order, and schools oversee teaching the children.

He believes that it consists of teachers having the most important role in altering the consciousness of their students. Accommodating them towards an acceptance of reality and, by insinuation, an acceptance of hegemony. Through social learning Althusser argues a Capitalist class is able to make sure the reproduction of Capitalism and its political leadership over time. Which is necessary in order for society to function

The Contribution of Functionalist Sociology to an Understanding of the Role of Education in Society

The main point the functionalist perspective on education is that society comprised of parts which encourage the framework in general and that adjustment in one a player in the public As a result, Functionalist theory on education shows that it assumes an indispensable part of people 's lives and society. For examples, when the society has a lot of educated people it will became more prosperous. On the other hand the society that has less educated people it will became illiterate.

Education plays an important part in everyone’s success in life. It provides children with teaching skills that prepare them mentally, physically and socially for the outside world of society. Education is vital to the needs of the modern industrial society, it teaches children from a young age discipline, respect, morals and values and prepares them for work and to help integrate them into society. There has been a lot of ideas and theories of how education should work. The three most common sociology groups are functionalist, Marxist and Interactionist. Marxist and

Education is considered one factor of socialisation. It involves the acquisition of knowledge and the learning skills(Haralambos, 2004). From functionalist and Marxist macro-sociological perspectives education is a second agency of socialisation. Functionalist perspective was the dominant approach until the 1960s. This consensus theory argued that education helps to transmit society 's norms and values. It promotes a meritocratic society by allocating people on their appropriate jobs. However, Marxist and interactionist perspectives do not support the meritocratic system. Marxism was the dominant approach through the late 1960s and 1970s. They believed that education serves the interest of the capitalism. Interactionism focus its analysis