Functionist View

The functionalist perspective, also called functionalism,Emile Durkheim, who was especially interested in how social order is possible or how society remains relatively stable. It is a consensus theory and one of its views is that society works like the human body (organ analogy). Durkheim was a functionalist and he came up with two functions of the education system the first one: Social solidarity; are networks of social relationships that involve mutual dependencies, Responsibilities, and entitlements within a defined group of people or a community. Where in a school social solidarity is when the students are all taught the same norms and values wear the same uniforms, abide by the same rules and attend the same gatherings. This is good as it maintains social order so individuals are more likely to conform. Durkheim argued that, in complex industrial societies, the school serves a function which cannot be provided by either the family or by the peer group. Membership of the family is based on kinship relationships; membership of the peer group on personal choice. The ownership of society as a whole is based on neither of these principles. Marxists argue that educational institutions tend to transmit a dominant culture which serves the interests of the ruling class, another word for ruling class is Bourgeoisie rather than those of society as a whole also In recent decades both New Right and New Labour perspectives on education have tended to emphasise the economic importance of education and have downplayed the significance of transmitting a shared culture.Talcott Parsons outlined what has become the accepted functionalist view of education. Parsons argued that, after primary socialisation within the family the school takes over as the focal socialising agency; school acts as a bridge between the family and society as a whole, preparing children for their adult role. Within the family, the child is judged and treated largely in terms of particularistic...