Introduction - define what capitalism is. Explain how the essay question (above) is from a marxists point of view.DONE
Main- Identify ways in which the education system serves capitalist society.
Talk about Education as an ISA, the hidden curriculum, meritocracy, correspondence principle, the lads anti-school subculture.
Give a definition of all the above points, and explain how they are linked to the essay question . Evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion - Compare marxist view with functionalist view that the education system benefits society as a whole, e.g. social solidarity, specialist skills.
Explain how the New Right argue that schools fail to meet the needs of employers - much of the teaching is irrelevant to workplace.
Functionalist view of education.
Definitions for the following terms:
Functionalism - The theory that all aspects of a society serve a function and are necessary for the survival of society.
Consensus Theory - A social theory that states that social change should occur in institutions that are provided by a political or economic system.
Functional Prerequisite - Basic needs (food, shelter, clothing and money) that an individual requires to live above the poverty line.
Organic Analogy - Used to compare society to the human body, they argue that all parts of society need to work togethe in order for society to mantain the consensus. For example if the education system was failing, it would effect many other parts of society e.g. the workplace.
Social Solidarity - A set of norms, values and morals that hold a certain group of people together.
Specialist Skills - A set of skills that a person/group of people would require to do a certain job.
Particularistic Standards - Rules that apply only to one particular person/group of people.
Universalistic Standards - Rules that apply to everyone.
Meritocracy - A system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement.
Role Allocation - The system of allocating people to roles which suit their aptitudes and capabilities (aptitudes - natural abilities/ natural tendency to do something)
Similarities and differences between Functionalist and Marxist views:
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