Education: schooling, its functions and different views

Last time

Before we start: last time, in Differences in educational achievement, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

Why we go to school

Most children spend more than ten years in school. Sociologists ask what schools really do: teach skills, sort people into jobs, pass on values, or keep inequality going. This lesson covers types of education and the main views of its role.

Formal and informal education

Formal education takes place in schools and colleges, with a set curriculum, qualified teachers and exams. Informal education is learning outside school, from family, friends and the media. The hidden curriculum is what schools teach without saying so: obedience, punctuality, competition and respect for authority.

Types of school

State schools are funded by the government and free. Private, or independent, schools charge fees. Faith schools are linked to a religion. Single-sex schools teach only girls or only boys. Home schooling is education by parents at home.

Single-sex schools

Some argue single-sex schools help girls: fewer distractions, more confidence, and more choice of science subjects. Others argue mixed schools prepare students for real life, where men and women work together. Results may reflect the background of pupils, not the type of school.

The functionalist view

Durkheim argued education creates social solidarity, by passing on shared values and history. Parsons argued schools are meritocratic: rewards are based on ability and effort, so everyone has a fair chance. Davis and Moore argued education sorts people into the right jobs: role allocation.

The Marxist view

Bowles and Gintis argued the correspondence principle: school mirrors the workplace, training obedient workers. They argued meritocracy is a myth: middle-class children do better because of their background, not just ability. Marxists see education as passing on ruling-class ideas, so inequality is accepted.

The feminist view

Feminists argue schools have reinforced gender stereotypes, steering girls and boys into different subjects and careers. Textbooks and teachers' expectations have sometimes shown men in active roles and women in caring roles. Girls now often outperform boys, but subject choices still differ.

Three views of education

The three views side by side.

Other roles

Economic: teaching skills that the economy needs. Political: creating good citizens who understand their rights and duties. Social control: teaching rules and discipline.

Mistakes that lose marks

Mistake one: confusing the hidden curriculum with informal education. Mistake two: giving Marxist views that are really functionalist, such as meritocracy as fair. Mistake three: naming a theory without explaining it. The fix: the right view, the key idea, and the thinker.

The full-marks tip

The full-marks tip: for each view, give its key idea and a thinker: Parsons for meritocracy, Bowles and Gintis for correspondence. For single-sex schools, give benefits and drawbacks, then judge.

On one card

So, on one card: education. Keep it for revision.