DURKHEIM PARSONS
Social Solidarity: Meritocracy:
Durkheim argues that society needs a sense of solidarity. School acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. This is necessary as the family and
Without social solidarity, social life and cooperation society operate on different principles:
would be impossible because everyone would pursue In the family child is judged on particularistic standards – rules that only apply to that child.
their own selfish desires. Also, child’s status in the family is ascribed – fixed at birth.
Education system helps to create social solidarity by School and wider society judged people based on universalistic standards – impersonal
transmitting society’s culture from one generation to and the same for everyone. Also, in school and wider society a person’s status is largely
the next. achieved.
E.G., teaching a country’s history instils in children a Parsons sees school as preparing us to move from the family to wider society because school and
sense of shared heritage and a commitment to the wider society are both based on meritocratic principles. In a meritocracy. Everyone is given an equal
social group. opportunity, and individuals achieve rewards through their own effort and ability.
School also acts as a ‘society in miniature’, preparing us
for life in wider society. DAVIS AND MOORE
E.G., both in school and at work we have to cooperate Role allocation:
with people who are neither friends nor family. Education is a device for selection and role allocation.
Specialist skills: They argue that inequality is necessary to ensure that the most important roles in society are filled
Education teaches individuals the specialist skills and by the most talented people. Not everyone is equally talented, so society has to offer higher
knowledge that they need to play their part in the rewards for these jobs. This will encourage everyone to compete for them and society can then
social division of labour. select the most talented individuals to fill these positions.
This is because modern industrial economies have a Education plays a key role in this process as it acts as a proving ground for ability. Education ‘sifts
complex division of labour, where the production of and sorts of students based on ability. The most able gain the highest qualifications which then
even a single item usually involves the cooperation of gives them entry to the most important and highly rewarded jobs.
many different specialists.
EVAL:
There is evidence that equal opportunity in education does not exist. Achievement is largely influenced by class background rather than ability.
Marxists argue that education in capitalist society only transmits the ideology of a minority – the ruling class.
Functionalists wrongly imply that pupils passively accept all they are taught and ever reject school’s values.
Neoliberals and new right argue that the state education system fails to prepare young people adequately for work.
Social Solidarity: Meritocracy:
Durkheim argues that society needs a sense of solidarity. School acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. This is necessary as the family and
Without social solidarity, social life and cooperation society operate on different principles:
would be impossible because everyone would pursue In the family child is judged on particularistic standards – rules that only apply to that child.
their own selfish desires. Also, child’s status in the family is ascribed – fixed at birth.
Education system helps to create social solidarity by School and wider society judged people based on universalistic standards – impersonal
transmitting society’s culture from one generation to and the same for everyone. Also, in school and wider society a person’s status is largely
the next. achieved.
E.G., teaching a country’s history instils in children a Parsons sees school as preparing us to move from the family to wider society because school and
sense of shared heritage and a commitment to the wider society are both based on meritocratic principles. In a meritocracy. Everyone is given an equal
social group. opportunity, and individuals achieve rewards through their own effort and ability.
School also acts as a ‘society in miniature’, preparing us
for life in wider society. DAVIS AND MOORE
E.G., both in school and at work we have to cooperate Role allocation:
with people who are neither friends nor family. Education is a device for selection and role allocation.
Specialist skills: They argue that inequality is necessary to ensure that the most important roles in society are filled
Education teaches individuals the specialist skills and by the most talented people. Not everyone is equally talented, so society has to offer higher
knowledge that they need to play their part in the rewards for these jobs. This will encourage everyone to compete for them and society can then
social division of labour. select the most talented individuals to fill these positions.
This is because modern industrial economies have a Education plays a key role in this process as it acts as a proving ground for ability. Education ‘sifts
complex division of labour, where the production of and sorts of students based on ability. The most able gain the highest qualifications which then
even a single item usually involves the cooperation of gives them entry to the most important and highly rewarded jobs.
many different specialists.
EVAL:
There is evidence that equal opportunity in education does not exist. Achievement is largely influenced by class background rather than ability.
Marxists argue that education in capitalist society only transmits the ideology of a minority – the ruling class.
Functionalists wrongly imply that pupils passively accept all they are taught and ever reject school’s values.
Neoliberals and new right argue that the state education system fails to prepare young people adequately for work.
