Surname: Herrmann
Student Nr: 57913447
Module: PSE 4801
, Chapter 1
1.1 How does functionalism view schooling? (5)
According to functionalist they see schools as a way they serve children to socialize
to be more adaptable in the worlds economic, political, and social structures.
Therefore, it structures a function of producing people with similar economic,
political, and cultural practices. Functionalist identify a manifest function in the school
system that serves a basic, clear and functionable educational purpose of schooling.
Functionalist also identify schools as an important serving institution for different
tasks in any society, socialization. For the functionalist, socialization means the
effective moulding of individuals to fit existing social practices and requirements.
1.2 How does conflict (Marxist) theory view schooling? (5)
A conflict theorist will identify schooling as a social practice which is supported by
those in power. This will support their dominance and the order of society. It should
be obvious that the conflict theorist is concerned with is a struggle between classes,
between wealthy and poor, workers and capitalists, strong and helpless. Many of
these conflict theorists can also be identified as Marxists and believes that social
structures contribute to maintain inequitable class relations in society. Marxists
believes that schooling is used to keep the dominance to power and maintain a class
relationship.
1.3 How does interpretivism (interpretivist approach) view the school? (5)
Interpretivists sees the world as a world full of acting that makes social interaction
possible. These is seen as having different rules, norms, interpretations etc. Shared
meanings and the interpretations of people as they interact within specific social
situations are the social forces that are at work here. The interpretivist is concerned
primarily with how people interpret and make sense of the social settings in which
they find themselves.
Interpretivist believes that we have to understand the way things are done in a
specific setting and place to be able to understand the different meanings they share
with others. Analogy of a game is a suited example of an interpretivists view,
meaning that you can not join nor play a game if you do not understand the rules
connected to the play. Pg 23