The Conflict Perspective on Education

While the Functionalist perspective focuses on the positive aspects of

education, such as:

Maintaining stability and smooth operation of society

The Conflict perspective tends to shed more light on the negative aspects of
education, such as:

Social ranking
Limiting of potentials

Therefore, the Conflict perspective states two things:

Students achievements or failures reflect social inequalities

Education, whether directly or not, promotes social inequality

BUT WHATS THE PROOF BEHIND THIS? Conflict theorists point to two
factors:

Social Control
Tracking
1. Social Control:

Functionalists view:
Conflicts view:

A positive thing
Common set of values
Sharing basic knowledge

A negative thing
Unquestioning and unaware individuals
Acceptance of inequality

WHAT SUPPOSEDLY FULFILLS THE CONFLICTS PROPHECY? The hidden

curriculum, which is:

Transmission of cultural goals that arent openly acknowledged

A set of conservative values that centers on obedience
Acceptance of the status quo

The Conflict Perspective states that simple things such as standing in lines,
being quiet and obeying the rules are parts of the hidden curriculum. It also
states that no matter how good a student is academics-wise, he will always
face trouble if he doesnt submit to the hidden curriculum.
2. Tracking: The assignment of students to different educational
programs based on their test scores and grades. The arts and science
orientations in MHS is
a good example of this.

Functionalists
Conflicts view:

view:

A positive thing
Helps students excel
Fulfills the occupational space

Education and Socioeconomic Status:

A negative thing
Limits potentials
Promotes the status
quo

Many Americans see that income is directly proportional to education and

regard education as the means of a good job, comfortable lifestyle and social
mobility.

Functionalists
Conflicts view:

A positive thing
Students succeed according to
their abilities and talents

view:

A negative thing
Education is tied to the socioeconomic
status
Unequal education

HOW DOES SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AFFECT EDUCATION?

A higher class means higher expectations, and vice versa.

A higher class means a better environment and better experience for

education
A higher class means more exposure to cultural events, therefore
opening up their minds
A higher class means being able to easily pay for education expenses