Unit 1

Introduction to Education

The role and functions of the education system in sociology

The sociology of education is the study of human social relationships, patterns, events,
institutions, and their development in the context of education.Sociologists investigate
and examine people's experiences of education and outcomes by identifying trends.
They study how education affects society. Sociologists analyze social phenomena at
different levels and from different theoretical perspectives.

'Education system' definition

The term 'education system' refers to the economic, political and social structures that
shape access to and experiences of education in a particular country or state.

Functions of education in society

There are numerous theoretical perspectives or sociological paradigms on the role and
functions of education. Here is a summary of these theoretical perspectives:

Functionalist theory of education

According to functionalists, society is like a biological organism with interconnected

parts held together by a value consensus. Each piece performs a vital role in
maintaining balance and social equilibrium for the continuity of society.

Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)

Functionalist theories of education draw heavily on French sociologist Émile Durkheim

(1858–1917), who argued that education serves the needs of society by helping pupils
develop specialist skills and create social solidarity.

Durkheim emphasized the importance of moral education, which is essential in the

transmission of culture and role allocation or social placement.
 Talcott Parsons

Talcott Parsons (1902–1979), argued that after the family,

education takes over as the most important agent of secondary socialisation. For
Parsons, schools, like wider society, are based on meritocratic principles.

People are rewarded based on their efforts and talents. Schools are the focal socialising
agent; they act as a bridge between the family and wider society, teaching pupils how to
navigate society.

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore (1945) suggested education plays a vital function
in role allocation. Schools and other educational institutions select and allocate pupils to
their future roles. Inequality is a necessary and inevitable result of meritocracy; without
inequalities, there would be no meritocracy. Inequalities also encourage competition
which ensures the most talented and the most suitable people fill the most important
positions in society, and encourages social and cultural innovation.

Marxist and socialist theories of education

1. A Marxist view of society is based on class division. Marxists view education the
same way, saying that education is based on class division and capitalist
exploitation.
2. Traditional Marxists view capitalism as a two-class system; the capitalist ruling
class are a minority class that holds the most power in society and owns the
means of production, and the working class are forced to sell their labour to the
ruling class. This, in turn, creates class conflict and raises class consciousness.
3. Capitalism persists because the ruling class can control society through the
education system. Education legitimises class inequality by producing and
reproducing ideologies that create false class consciousness among the
exploited working class.

Sam Bowles and Herb Gintis argue that education casts a 'long shadow of work',
meaning there are close parallels between work and school.

● School mirrors or corresponds with the workplace as they both involve reward,
punishment, uniform, and hierarchy.
● The correspondence principle operates through the hidden curriculum;
 ● Lessons on punctuality and behaviour are not formally
taught to pupils, but pupils eventually internalise and
accept them.
● This is essential because capitalism requires obedience and
workers-compliance.

Feminist theories of education

Feminist theories emphasise the exploitation and marginalisation of women and girls.
Feminists argue that education is an agent of secondary socialisation that enforces
patriarchy and the subjugation of women and girls.

Liberal feminists

Liberal feminists celebrate the advancement of girls' education and highlight progress
that has been made in the attainment gap between girls and boys, and education today
is used to promote gender equality.

Radical feminists
highlight the gender inequalities that still exist in society and education. Subjects are still
gendered, and the curriculum transmits patriarchal norms and values. Girls in schools
are subjected to gendered violence while the media creates moral panic about the
underachievement of boys. The focus on the underachievement of boys is a distraction
and reflects the domination exercised by boys and men.

Marxist and socialist feminists argue that through the hidden curriculum, pupils are
taught capitalist patriarchal values, and to accept their subjugation. Boys are taught to
dominate and exploit girls.

Feminists agree that current sociological research and theories are 'malestream',
meaning most people are preoccupied with understanding and explaining things
through boys and men's experiences. They focus heavily on boys and marginalise and
devalue the experiences of girls in the education system.
 Neoliberal and new right theories of education

Neoliberalism is a term used to describe a set of economic

and social practices, policies, and processes that work to expand free-market
capitalism. Neoliberals argue that marketing education creates competition which helps
improve schools. Neoliberals advocate for restricting state involvement in the lives of
citizens and believe the state should not be responsible for providing education.

New right theories

Proponents of the new right are conservatives who have adopted neoliberal ideologies.
They also believe that education should reflect the market and the state should not
provide education for every child, simply because it cannot do so. It argues that the
state cannot offer everyone adequate education, meaning that children from
working-class families get left behind. Marketing education offers working-class families
opportunities that the current system cannot provide. It also makes schools accountable
to parents who are seen as consumers. It argues that state involvement stunts
innovation, making us unprepared for the global market.

Marketing education raises standards, which improves attainment and fosters social
and cultural innovation as schools and educational institutions are constantly
responding to the market. This also helps create a competent workforce and leads to
greater diversity.

Postmodernist theories of education

'Postmodernists', as they are sometimes called, seek to move beyond functionalist,

conflict, and symbolic interactionist paradigms of understanding social interactions.
They want to investigate patterns, events, and institutions.
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement that arose in the 20th century as a
response to modernity. It challenges the ideas and values of modernism which was
characterised by individualism, industrialisation, and scientific thought.
Postmodernists argue that we have moved from modernism to postmodernism. Society
is now a lot more diverse, as well as being far more consumerist, which means that
people now have more choice. In the context of education, there has been a shift.
Education was once controlled centrally by the state but has now become marketised.
Marketisation has turned schools into businesses, but it has
also forced teachers to 'reskill'. Teachers are now expected
to cater for a diverse student population who have different
learning styles, and the national curriculum no longer only centres on British values and
industrial needs; it prepares pupils to survive in a globalised world.

Postmodernist theories of education track the advancement and changes of the

education system throughout history and evaluate how education has adapted to
respond to the needs of society and the economy.

The 1944 tripartite education system

The debate surrounding the future of education was widespread and pervasive after the
end of the Second World War. In order for all children to be able to fulfil their potential
through education, the UK government passed the 1944 Education Act. This involved
splitting education in England and Wales into three distinct stages:

● Primary education (ages 5 to 11)

● Secondary education (ages 11 to 15)
● Further/higher education

The most significant changes to education brought about by the introduction of the
tripartite system were for secondary school-goers. Namely, the implementation of the
11+ test made it so that children could be allocated to one of three types of schools for
their secondary education (hence this system being called the tripartite system). The
three types of schools were:

● Grammar schools, meant for students with high academic achievements.

● Technical schools, for students with high aptitude in technical and vocational
learning.
● Secondary modern schools, for students with more practical skills, who would
only receive a very basic academic education.
The comprehensive education system

The comprehensive system emerged from the social

democratic belief that everybody should have the same opportunities for success. As a
direct answer to the inequalities of the tripartite system, comprehensive schools brought
all students into a single type of school without the barrier of entrance or 11+ exams.

Education System - Key takeaways

● Education has many functions. Most theories agree that education is an agent of
secondary socialisation transmitting values and norms.
● Functionalists view education as an important component in role allocation or
social placement.
● Marxists and socialists believe education produces and reproduces class
inequalities.
● Feminists believe education upholds the patriarchy and teaches girls to be
subservient to boys.
● Postmodernists view functionalist, Marxist, feminist, and neoliberal theories as
outdated. They seek to understand the role and functions of education in a
postmodern society.

Questions
1. What is the role of the education system?
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2. What are the Five Functions of Education?

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3. What is the role and function of education in 21st century?

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4.What is the main purpose of the education system?

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