Functionalist Role Of Schools In Contemporary Society
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Functionalist Role of Schools in Contemporary Society
In looking at the role that schools play in society, it is important to first understand what the meaning of a school is. Most people would define a school a s an institution where people go to gain knowledge and to do exams but from a scholarly sociologist point of view, a school is an institution where people not only go to get knowledge but also learn how to co-habit with one another in society as one (Anderson 2009). The function of a school in society is charged with the responsibility of developing interpersonal communication and literally skills among individuals in order to further one’s ability to learn more complex life skills and more demanding subject principles. These skills are aimed at helping these individuals to create a livelihood for themselves, satisfy personal curiosities and fulfill one’s personal desire for personal fulfillment to better oneself (Macionis 2008). As Moore’s et al (2008) explains, functionalism from a functionalist’s perspective on education is having consensus perspective: it is a perspective in which one examine how the society is maintained for the common good. Such a functionalist perspective mainly puts an emphasis on the positive aspects of schools such as socialization, the learning of skills and individualistic attitudes in school. Education on the other hand is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one learning generation to the next through teaching, training and research (Bourdieu 1977). Education plays a key role in society by maintaining the aspect of socializing the young into values of achievement, competition and equality of opportunity (Macionis 2008). Education provides a platform for skill accusation and role allocation in society.
In looking at the role of schools in today’s society, it is important to notice that today schools are faced by many complex issues one
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Functionalist Role of Schools in Contemporary Society
In looking at the role that schools play in society, it is important to first understand what the meaning of a school is. Most people would define a school a s an institution where people go to gain knowledge and to do exams but from a scholarly sociologist point of view, a school is an institution where people not only go to get knowledge but also learn how to co-habit with one another in society as one (Anderson 2009). The function of a school in society is charged with the responsibility of developing interpersonal communication and literally skills among individuals in order to further one’s ability to learn more complex life skills and more demanding subject principles. These skills are aimed at helping these individuals to create a livelihood for themselves, satisfy personal curiosities and fulfill one’s personal desire for personal fulfillment to better oneself (Macionis 2008). As Moore’s et al (2008) explains, functionalism from a functionalist’s perspective on education is having consensus perspective: it is a perspective in which one examine how the society is maintained for the common good. Such a functionalist perspective mainly puts an emphasis on the positive aspects of schools such as socialization, the learning of skills and individualistic attitudes in school. Education on the other hand is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one learning generation to the next through teaching, training and research (Bourdieu 1977). Education plays a key role in society by maintaining the aspect of socializing the young into values of achievement, competition and equality of opportunity (Macionis 2008). Education provides a platform for skill accusation and role allocation in society.
In looking at the role of schools in today’s society, it is important to notice that today schools are faced by many complex issues one
Cited: Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, H.F. 2009. Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth Accessed April 15, 2013, from < http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociological-Theory/a/Functionalist-Theory.htm > Bourdieu, P. passeron,J. 1977. Reproduction in Education, Society and culture. London: Saga. Macionis, J. and plummer, K., 2008 sociology. 4th edition harlow: pearson education Ltd, Chapter 20. Moore’s. aitkin,D. et al 2008. sociology as for AQA, 3rd edition harper collins, chapter 6.