Functionalist and New Right Perspectives on Education
The functionalist perspective views education as serving important positive functions for society:
- Talcott Parsons saw schools as "bridges" between family and work, teaching universal standards
- Emile Durkheim emphasized education's role in creating social solidarity and providing specialized skills
- Davis and Moore viewed education as allocating roles based on merit
Definition: Functionalist perspective on education sees schools as performing necessary functions to maintain social order and prepare individuals for their future roles in society.
The New Right perspective advocated for market-based reforms in education:
- Introduced marketization of schools and reduced power of local education authorities
- Chubb and Moe argued for putting education "in the hands of consumers" through school choice
Example: New Labour policies in Britain included giving schools subject specialisms and expanding vocational education options.
Vocabulary: Marketisation of education refers to introducing market-like mechanisms such as school choice and competition for funding into public education systems.
Marxist and Feminist Perspectives on Education
The Marxist view on class inequality in the education system argues that:
- Education reproduces class inequality in each generation
- Schools transmit capitalist ideology and prepare students to accept exploitation
- The "myth of meritocracy" fools working-class students into believing there is fair competition
Quote: Bowles and Gintis argue that "family background and social class signify achievement, but the working class are fooled into thinking there is open and fair competition."
Feminist perspectives examine gender issues in education:
- Early socialization can lead to gendered subject choices
- Vocational courses are often highly gendered (e.g. childcare vs. engineering)
- Liberal feminists point to girls' improving performance as evidence of progress
- Radical feminists argue gendered patterns persist in subject choices and achievement
Highlight: Both Marxist and feminist perspectives critique the functionalist view of education as meritocratic, pointing to persistent inequalities based on class and gender.