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Functionalist perspective on education

            Functionalist perspective on education.
             Critically evaluate the functionalist perspective on education.
             The key ideas of the functionalist perspective is that society is made up of parts which support the system as a whole and that changes in one part of society (such as the family) changes other parts of society (such as education). For instance if we start having less children then the education system will be effected.
             The focus of the functionalist perspective is on how a part contributes to the survival of the whole. The key to functionalist thought is that society is characterised by order and stability. Functionalist tends to be conservative in their outlook arguing that widespread social change can be very destructive for social systems. For instance in the industrial revolution in Western countries urbanisation and demographic movements led to high crime levels, increased suicide, and changing social relationships based on relations between strangers.
             Functionalism emerged through the work of Comte, Durkheim, and Spencer. These early social theorists experienced the social changes in the 1800s. .
             The functionalist perspective has often been termed the sunshine perspective. This is because it takes a pro-society stance. It can assume that because something exists it is functional for society. Poverty creates jobs for some workers and assists society to use all of its products. It is of course dysfunctional. It costs society much more. This level of theorising is useless. Functionalism does give us a perspective on society that we can use in daily life. In education meritocracy is used in order for individuals to obtain higher paid jobs with more credibility and social status. Education operates in a similar principle to the way in which the poverty creates jobs for some workers. This is because if everyone attended higher education it would no longer have the same value in our society, as it would not differentiate one individual from another.


Essays Related to Functionalist perspective on education

1. A Sociological Perspective on Education

... Merton, refers to as a self-fulfilling prophecy (Bearman & Hedstrom, 2009). Although Robert Merton is known in the sociological world as a functionalist, his argument supports a conflict theorist's perspective on education. This realization further strengthens the idea that the functionalist perspective on education is significantly intertwined with a juxtaposed conflict theory perspective. A self-fulfilling prophecy is "a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come ... presence of social inequality in society. In conclusion,...

  • Word Count: 2568
  • Approx Pages: 10

2. Education from a Functionalist Perspective

... , post-compulsory secondary school, technical and further eduction (TAFE) and higher education (university) (van Krieken et al, 2000:187). This essay argues the usefulness of education to the entire Australian society, as seen from a functional sociologist's perspective. After an outline of the functionalist world-view, the functional role of education will be examined. O"Donnell (1994:7) states that when people behave in ... , the student/tutorial relationship could be seen as cooperative exchange with value ascribed by both parties to the exchange of knowledge (Walter & Crook, 1993:5). ...

  • Word Count: 1216
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. functionalist and marxist appr

... been high amongst the British working-class. We must take this fact into consideration. Now we have a multicultural society. However Religion is a major part of the National curriculum in education. And daily, within schools children are encouraged to perform prayers and conform to this. Nonetheless, though we are not looking into the issue of secularisation we are looking at the ... describes those who benefit from social order as the ruling class; this is because there position is maintained because Religion makes people accept the status quo. In the functionalist perspective Now we m...

  • Word Count: 1784
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Sociology and the Fuctionalist View on Education

... that society is a system of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture and value consensus.Each part of the education system according to functionalists, help to maintain society as a whole. The leading authority of functionalist ideology is Emile Durkheim and he identifies two main functions of education which are social solidarity and teaching specialist skills. Other Functionalists argue that the role of ... modern economy according to Peter Blau and Otis Duncan by providing ˜human capital' that is best suited for each job. This is achieved by a meritocratic education sys...

  • Word Count: 1442
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Public Education

... . In Great Britain, New Zealand, and Sweden, policy makers have given parents a measure of freedom in selecting their children's schools, and government financing of schools is based on enrollment figures. In Australia, Denmark, and the Netherlands, there has been increasing governmental financial support for private schools (the economist 1994). The information in my research supports Gary Rosen ... policy so contrary to our most fundamental civic principles and institutions., As a practical matter, opponents charge, government financed vouchers invariably rob public schools of much need...

  • Word Count: 2004
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Education and Secondary Socialization

... and what is acceptable/appropriate behavior, for them; within a small group that The essay title 'all children in the UK are given an equal opportunity to succeed' is a functionalist opinion and very much subjective. Children from a privileged, wealthy background, for instance, have an immediate advantage over the less-fortunate, in that they have the financial means to fund additional ... technology such as computers and console games, social media, smart phones and digital satellite television means that boys find it harder to concentrate on studies, as online gaming has more of a...

  • Word Count: 1664
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Education for Work?

... ; affirmative action is not a new phenomena, education needs to be continually adapting to the environment in which we live in. Pioneering research from Durkheim saw education as an essential socialising agency, maintaining social control and order. Parsons claimed education was a bridge from family to the wider world. (Letts, 2001) In contrast to the functionalist theory, Marxism took a new perspective on the school environment; who argued that ... education is a function in which to maintain class inequalities in wealth and power ... ...

  • Word Count: 4180
  • Approx Pages: 17
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Marxist Theory on Education and the Workforce

... how to control the labor market. Marxism helps to explain the diversity of ones advancement via the education system into adult life. On the other hand, the Functionalists perspective challenges the Marxist theory of education. Functionalists believe that the education system is primarily based on a meritocracy. Durkheim and Parsons, Functionalist sociologists, explain that people in society who are the most talented and hardworking will be recognized by ... the education system and will be qualified to access high positions in the labour market. Functionalists presume this will ... ...

  • Word Count: 1463
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Family

... together on a daily basis and refers to the basic method of living from day to day with others and involves behaviour such as eating, sleeping, companionship and experiencing emotional ties with those we feel close to. There are several different sociological explanations from different perspectives: Functionalism, Marxism, Interactionism and Feminism. 2. Functionalism The best part of the work carried out in the Functionalist perspective ... for making changes to existing relationships. Weaknesses include: this perspective looks at structured groups and not individuals. It also tends t...

  • Word Count: 1895
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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