The Role of Education

Lesson objectives:

1. To develop understanding of competing perspectives on education.

2. To be able to link specific Sociologists with perspectives and particular concepts.

What is the purpose of education?

• TASK

1. Look at the following pictures and discuss with a partner the purpose of education

2. Write down 5 key purposes of education for the individual AND society

Brainstorm....

What would be the functionalist

view of education?

Functionalist views on

education

Highlight positive functions of education

for society- examine how schools help to promote consensus in society by

socialising people into its norms and values

DURKHEIM:

• Social Solidarity

• Society in miniature

• Division of labour

Task

Read page 139-40 and complete the gap fill

task

Parsons:

• Meritocracy

• Value consensusi. Equality of opportunity

ii. Value of achievement

ARE THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE EVIDENCE OF A MERITOCRATIC

SOCIETY OR A SOCIETY FRAUGHT WITH INEQUALITY?

Discuss the following people – Have their achievements been a result of

meritocracy?

DAVID BECKHAM

PEACHES GELDOF

MADONNA

PARIS HILTON

RICHARD BRANSON

ALAN SUGAR

NICOLE RITCHIE

ZARA PHILLIPS

Parsons:

• Read page 139 and complete the following tasks

1. define the following terms....

• Particularistic standards

• Ascribed status

• Universalistic standards

• Meritocracy

2. According to Parsons, what is the difference between education and the family in carrying out socialisation?

Who’s best for the job?

TASK1. Write down the following things about

yourself......a) What A levels are you doing?b) What are your predicted grades for your A

Levels?c) Top 3 subjects you did best at in your GCSE’sd) What skills do you think you can offer to a

future employer?

Medicine • FIVE-YEAR COURSE (A100)

• We interview the best applicants. In practice this has meant that, for the past three years, only those candidates with AAA A Level predictions and at least 7 A* grades at GCSE, have been selected for interview. However, because of the competition, meeting these requirements does not guarantee that you will receive the offer of an interview.

• MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• A2 Levels

• Standard offer: AAA

• Chemistry required

• One from Biology, Physics or Mathematics required

• One other subject, which could include those named above, but cannot be General Studies or Critical Thinking

• AS Levels

• Biology required (grade A) if not offered at A2 level.

• A2/AS Levels

• For combinations of Biology with any of Psychology, Physical Education or Sociology, grade A must be offered in a 4th or (if necessary) a 5th AS subject

• GCSE

• Candidates with AAA predicted or achieved A Levels must normally have at least 7 A* grades at GCSE, with A grades in GCSE Maths and English.

Policeman • AGE REQUIREMENTS

• Applications can be accepted at the age of 18 for appointment at 18½. There’s no upper age limit for applying to the police service.

• HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

• There are no minimum or maximum height requirements to join the police force.

• QUALIFICATIONS

• There are no formal educational requirements for recruitment to the police service, but applicants must take two written tests to ensure they have a reasonable standard of English, as well as a numeracy test. You’ll also need to be able pass our selection process and complete initial training (see below).

• NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

• You must be a British citizen, an EC/EEA national or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. Foreign nationals and UK citizens who have lived abroad may have to wait some time for security and vetting clearance. All applicants have to be vetted to the same standard before appointment.

• DRIVING AND SWIMMING

• You will not be rejected because you cannot drive or swim.

Davis and Moore:

• Role allocation-

most talented people gain higher qualification which lead to important jobs with high rewards (money).

Davis and Moore:

• Inequality is necessary to ensure that the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people

• Blau and Duncan (1978)- modern economy depends on human capital (workers skills)......Meritocratic education does this best as it enables each person to be allocated to the job best suited to them in order to maximise productivity within our economy!

Evaluation of the Functionalist view of education

• “ passes on societies norms and values from one generation to the next, which creates social solidarity”

• ...........

Evaluation of the Functionalist view of education

• “Education provides a bridge between the particularistic values and ascribed status of the family and the universalistic values and achieved status of wider society”

• ..........

Evaluation of the Functionalist view of education

• “ Education provides a trained and qualified labour force”

• .........

Evaluation of the Functionalist view of education

• “ Effective role selection and allocation-selects the right people for the most suitable jobs in a meritocratic society”

• .........

Functionalist bingo!!

Social solidarity meritocracy

universalistic particularistic specialist skills

role allocation Parsons Durkheim

human capital Davis and Moore

ascribed status achieved status