Functionalism In Education

Sociological theories are ‘the core and underlying strength’ of sociological discipline (Hammond, Thompson and Hickey, 2004).Theories are concepts and ideas that have been tested and combined to give a set of ideas and explanations for people’s thoughts and behaviours. Functionalism is one of the oldest and most established theories in sociology. Functionalism is a top down theory. ‘Individuals are born into society and become the product of all the social influences around them’, these are the institutions such as the criminal justice system, education, family and religion (Trueman, 2015). Postmodernism is a sociological theory that was founded in the late 20th century founded by Baudrillard and Lyotard (Locher, 2015). Functionalists and postmodernists have contrasting opinions on the social world around us and using religion as a reference to contemporary society is going to outline the main differences between both theories. Religion has been a

Using material from item A and elsewhere assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of the role of education.

The author compares today’s school system to that of the past, which concerned itself with teaching students,

The education system has faults and many inequalities throughout it. The inequalities can be seen in many different areas including, meritocracy, different social classes, gender and ethnic inequalities, racism, cultural capital, and repressive state apparatuses etc. Various sociologists have different views about the education system and what the inequalities consist of.

Bias, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is an inclination of temperament or outlook, or a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgement. We face bias in our everyday lives when dealing with all aspects of life and not necessarily the criminal justice system. As a part of society, like conflict, bias helps our society function. While not always in a positive sense, bias does have a place in society that helps it function the way we know it today. Bias in society can be compared or categorized under the sociological perspective of Functionalism. The sociological theory of Functionalism is essentially when all aspects of society that are interdependent contribute to the functioning existence of society as a whole. If there was no bias in society,

“Social-Conflict analysis links formal education to social inequality to show how schooling transforms privilege into personal worthiness and disadvantage into personal deficiency.” (Macionis, 2009) Karl Marx’s social-conflict analysis would make a more direct correlation in the root of capitalism, with a focus on the social inequality of schooling based on creating a disadvantage between the rich and the poor. The unfortunate part of Marx’s theory is that it still holds true today.

Bowles and Gintis also believe that schools are no longer about the teaching of a subject but the Social Principle or control of the pupils meaning that schools concentrate more on the hidden curriculum than the knowledge process. Equally, schools don’t reward independence and innovation, therefore meritocracy cannot exist within our capitalist society as capitalism is based on the principle of a ruling class (the bourgeosis) and a working class (the proletariat) and meritocracy would abolish the idea of the ruling class, society would be equal. According to Louis Althusser (1972), a French Marxist philosopher, the school serves to mould individuals into subjects that fit with the requirements of capitalism, they learn submission, deference and respect for the economy and their place in it. The school also works to ensure that the labour force is technically competent. Also, according to Althusser, the ruling class within any society exercises control over and through schooling and the Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs). The ideologies themselves express the material interests of the ruling class, so this control over and through the ISAs maintains what is called class hegemony, or domination. Althusser is also draws attention to the powerful effects of the ‘hidden curriculum’ of

The agent of socialization that impacts society the most is media. Dealing with people has a big effect on how functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists will interpret how media will impact society. Functionalism focuses on how social media and technology plays a big role in society and makes everything run smoothly.(marketography.com) Functionalists believe that social media plays a big role in society. They believe that if it wasn't for social media that we wouldn't know how to get information, and that we would have to write paper by hand, instead of just typing them on the computer. They break it down in smaller sections because it doesn't all fit under the same thing. One way that social media is used is to promote things. Most of us in the world own a tv. They create commercials that you see when you are watching tv. These commercials promote different products or businesses in a way that we will understand but will also be interested in the product or business which will make us want to buy the product or go there. It doesn't just stop there advertising is everywhere.(cnx.org) It is on your computer and at movie theaters. Functionalists say that when they ask people why they want tv is because they enjoy it. From gaming to online chats social media is a way that can help you entertain family or friends. Another good thing that it help us pass along norms, values,and beliefs from generation to generation.(cnx.org) Social media teaches us how to speak, behave, and how to react

Functionalism was the prevailing branch of western Human science until the 1960s since when it has been progressively reprimanded by sociologists favoring distinctive sociological points of view. Functionalists contend that social orders comprise of between related social foundations, for example, schools, broad communications, political frameworks, the Congregation and the family each of which contribute emphatically to the support of soundness of society in general. That is: these establishments are said to be useful for social orders all in all. Extensively talking it is accepted by functionalists that social orders work in light of a legitimate concern for the greater part of their individuals with the goal that there is no purpose behind key clash in the public eye. Rather there is a high level of accord that social orders are composed proficiently and moderately decently.

a material account, but we can see that we still cannot identify material account independently of the soul, because even though human beings are constituted from other than flesh and bones, if they possess soul, then their material account does not matter. For these reasons, I can conclude that functionalism cannot be adequate to clarify the relation between soul and body, too. Burnyeat also thinks that functionalism cannot be adequate, because Aristotle has some points which contradict with functionalism. For instance, as I mentioned above, functionalism provide psychological explanation holistically with the material account. Even though form has a primary role, it still presupposes material necessity, because given soul needs a body. However,

Functionalist and Marxist Approaches to Education and Economy Functionalist and Marxist perspectives differ considerably in the way they view the relationship between education and the economy. Both perspectives agree that the educational system provides society with certain functions, but they disagree about the purpose of these functions and more importantly who benefits from them. Functionalists see the educational system as providing a positive educational experience, which benefits the children and society. Whereas, Marxists claim that the system oppresses and harms people, and that it only benefits the powerful.

The Functionalist Explanation of the Role of Education in Modern Society I will discuss the functionalist's theories in comparison to those of the Marxist and Interactionists. Functionalists believe that all in society serves a purpose and it's a positive function. They also believe that education is a way of achieving in society; it develops people so that it gives them the opportunities in society (workplace).

I cannot write this essay without reference to study of my own experienced and my daughter’s- placed in the harsh environment of the government schooling system and its observations of the stark belief systems of “the child to fit the system” and not “the system to fit the child” with reference to the what education should be about. This means different things to different people. To some this means a teacher teaching and passive learning taking place, the outcome is expected at the end of each year that each child has to achieve the same outcome and is graded accordingly.

Karl Marx, is a German political philosopher. Jean (2011) documented that he developed the historic materialism relates social formation to the modes of production. He divide the society into two components, the superstructure and the base structure. The superstructure, contains family, media, politics etc regulates, control and monitor the base structure which includes relation and means of production; the base structure offer life necessities and support the superstructure. School is an institution that is placed at the intermediate position integrated with these social relations. Therefore, to explore the roles of education in this form of society, we need

The role of education is to educate individuals within society and to prepare them for working life in the economy, also to integrate individuals and teach them the norms, values and roles within society. There are many different sociological theories that differ within the role of education within society that attempt to try and explain how society or aspects of society work together. There are several perspectives on the sociology of education that are important. The perspective in which we are going to be looking at and testing is Functionalism. We will also be examining arguments and evidence against the functionalist perspective such as Marxism and the New Right perspective.