Functionalism and Education

Functionalists see education as performing the following functions:

S ocial control and solidarity - indidduals united as one society

E conomic - creating skilled workers for the economy 

T ransmitting norms and values - secondary socialisation

S ocial selection - Meritocracy (Effort + Ability = Reward)

Education fufils these functions through:

• 'Hidden Curriculum' - teaching students to be obedient in class and intergrating them into their roles as loyal adult citizens
• Qualifications as a reward for working hard in the same way wages are rewards for workers (correspondence theory)
  
• Sense of national identity - teaching of history and the pledge of alligance
• Creating a literate, hardworking workforce - national curriculum and A Levels/Vocational courses
• Select and allocate roles based on ability within the classroom, 'meritocractic society 

Durkeheim - Believed education achieves two key functions: 1. Social solidarity - uniting people through transmitting norms…