The Student Room Group

AQA AS Sociology - function of education

Whilst we were studying theories for education, we had a student teacher, who didn't teach us very well. I was going through a past paper, and one of the essay questions was:

"Examiner the different functions that the education system may perform for individuals and society"

Initially, I thought I could arrange this by theory e.g Functionalists, Marxists, but thought it would be too list like, so I am now try to arrange by function e.g socialisation, economic but this is becoming really complicated.

I looked on Sociologystuff.com and got some really useful information, but half the stuff we haven't done. We hardly have anything on Functionalism, and for Marxism, we just had to do things by ourselves.

How would you answer the above question? Also what do I need to know, theorywise for the education paper?

Thanks!
Reply 1
NickiM
Whilst we were studying theories for education, we had a student teacher, who didn't teach us very well. I was going through a past paper, and one of the essay questions was:

"Examiner the different functions that the education system may perform for individuals and society"

Initially, I thought I could arrange this by theory e.g Functionalists, Marxists, but thought it would be too list like, so I am now try to arrange by function e.g socialisation, economic but this is becoming really complicated.

I looked on Sociologystuff.com and got some really useful information, but half the stuff we haven't done. We hardly have anything on Functionalism, and for Marxism, we just had to do things by ourselves.

How would you answer the above question? Also what do I need to know, theorywise for the education paper?

Thanks!

Remember that I have a habit of overdoing stuff in my handouts!

I'd do the way you said, organising by "theme" rather than theory. Something like.

1. Intro - Education is important...but why!?..blahblah

2. Socialisation Function
----Durkheim
--------Secondary socialisation, preventing anomie, etc.
--------Bridging gap between affective relationships of family, universal relationships of adult life
-----Parsons
--------Adds to bridging function - Statuses and Standards
-----Marxists
--------Agree, but argue that socialisation function don't benefit everyone
--------Ideological Control...Mr Althusser.

3. Economic Function
-----Durkheim
---------Ensures students equiped with skills needed by economy
-----Parsons
---------Sorting and sifting function, role allocation, blahdyblahdy blah.
------Marxists
---------Is education meritocratic? Nope! Reproduction of class inequality (possibly like to Bourdieu)

4. Conclude
----Yey, we all agree on...
----But we disagree on...


Looking at the question, we should really build something in about functions for the individual (Friere and empowerment?) - however, I seriously doubt whether there is time in the exam to do this.

THE END.
Reply 2
Yes, thanks, what I've done so far basically is:

SOCIALISATION
- Define socialisation
- Functionalists:
* Durkheim - secondary socialisation
* Durkheim - social solidarity
* Parsons - bridges gap between family and society

I've just done a long plan at the moment, but I've explained each one and said how they function for the society/individual.

I'll also add Marxism in there

Thanks for the quick reply :smile:
Reply 3
How about David and Morgan 1994. They said that education was vital for social stratification - the most knowledgable get the most important positions in society.
Reply 4
josh2716
How about David and Morgan 1994. They said that education was vital for social stratification - the most knowledgable get the most important positions in society.

Isn't that just Davis and Moore's argument? Or have they added something.

Either way, I think you may struggle to work it in under timed conditions without loosing something else.
Reply 5
Yes, I'd have 25 minutes max. I haven't actually written it, as I am really clueless on this section of stuff *worried*