PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
Name:
Student number:
Subject number: PSE4801
Unique number:
Assignment: 4
Date:
Number of Pages:
1|Page
, Write an essay of not more than ten typed pages (cover page, table of content and
bibliography excluded) on the following topic:
Functionalism and conflict theory (Marxism) are two very different ways of viewing the
same social world and the relation of school to society.
Discuss this statement by referring to the school as “organ of society” (functionalism) and the
school as an instrument of class domination, serving to reproduce the workforce and
maintaining class relationships (Marxism).
1. Introduction to the essay:
Introduce the two schools of thought and their opposing views regarding the role of the school
in society. (Page:11- (10)
Functionalism and conflict theory (Marxism) are two contrasting sociological perspectives that
provide different viewpoints on the role of schools in society. Functionalism and conflict theory
(Marxism) are two prominent sociological perspectives that offer contrasting views on the role of
the school in society.
The assumption about functionalism is that Education brings together large numbers of individual
people and influences them to become a united whole, thus building social solidarity. Society's
norms and values are transmitted through education in the school. Parsons believed that
education leads to universal values. The family and wider society are linked, leading to secondary
socialization. Education also trains people for their future roles in society and helps match people
with suitable jobs. The school acts as a socialization agent, functioning between the family and
society to instill the value of achievement and the value of equality of opportunity in learners.
Conflict theory, inspired by Marxist thought, views society as divided by power dynamics and
social inequalities. Conflict theorists argue that social institutions, including schools, perpetuate
and reinforce these inequalities. In the context of education, conflict theorists emphasize how
schools reproduce and legitimize existing social hierarchies and class divisions. They see
education as a means by which the ruling class maintains its control over the working class and
reproduces social inequality. For example, they highlight how the curriculum often reflects
dominant ideologies, legitimizing the values and beliefs of the ruling class, while marginalizing
alternative perspectives.
While functionalists see schools as agents of social integration and socializing individuals into
productive members of society, conflict theorists view schools as replica of the larger social
structure, reproducing and perpetuating inequalities. For functionalists, education contributes to
social harmony and stability by preparing individuals for their future roles, whereas conflict
theorists argue that education serves to reinforce existing social divisions and maintain the
2|Page
Name:
Student number:
Subject number: PSE4801
Unique number:
Assignment: 4
Date:
Number of Pages:
1|Page
, Write an essay of not more than ten typed pages (cover page, table of content and
bibliography excluded) on the following topic:
Functionalism and conflict theory (Marxism) are two very different ways of viewing the
same social world and the relation of school to society.
Discuss this statement by referring to the school as “organ of society” (functionalism) and the
school as an instrument of class domination, serving to reproduce the workforce and
maintaining class relationships (Marxism).
1. Introduction to the essay:
Introduce the two schools of thought and their opposing views regarding the role of the school
in society. (Page:11- (10)
Functionalism and conflict theory (Marxism) are two contrasting sociological perspectives that
provide different viewpoints on the role of schools in society. Functionalism and conflict theory
(Marxism) are two prominent sociological perspectives that offer contrasting views on the role of
the school in society.
The assumption about functionalism is that Education brings together large numbers of individual
people and influences them to become a united whole, thus building social solidarity. Society's
norms and values are transmitted through education in the school. Parsons believed that
education leads to universal values. The family and wider society are linked, leading to secondary
socialization. Education also trains people for their future roles in society and helps match people
with suitable jobs. The school acts as a socialization agent, functioning between the family and
society to instill the value of achievement and the value of equality of opportunity in learners.
Conflict theory, inspired by Marxist thought, views society as divided by power dynamics and
social inequalities. Conflict theorists argue that social institutions, including schools, perpetuate
and reinforce these inequalities. In the context of education, conflict theorists emphasize how
schools reproduce and legitimize existing social hierarchies and class divisions. They see
education as a means by which the ruling class maintains its control over the working class and
reproduces social inequality. For example, they highlight how the curriculum often reflects
dominant ideologies, legitimizing the values and beliefs of the ruling class, while marginalizing
alternative perspectives.
While functionalists see schools as agents of social integration and socializing individuals into
productive members of society, conflict theorists view schools as replica of the larger social
structure, reproducing and perpetuating inequalities. For functionalists, education contributes to
social harmony and stability by preparing individuals for their future roles, whereas conflict
theorists argue that education serves to reinforce existing social divisions and maintain the
2|Page
