Theoretical Perspectives on Education 1 (Functionalism)
Which functionalist argued that education creates social solidarity by teaching shared norms and values?
Emile Durkheim
Which two sociologists developed the Correspondence Principle, arguing that school mirrors the workplace?
Bowles and Gintis (1976)
What is social mobility?
The movement of individuals or groups up or down the social hierarchy, inter- or intra-generationally
Who coined the term hidden curriculum?
Philip Jackson (1968)
What does ethnocentric curriculum mean?
A curriculum centered on the values, history, and culture of one dominant ethnic group
According to Parsons, schools act as a bridge between the family and wider society by moving children from particularistic to what kind of values?
Universalistic values
Louis Althusser described education as part of which apparatus that maintains ruling-class ideology?
Ideological State Apparatus
Which functionalist argued that education is a meritocratic system that allocates people to roles based on ability?
Davis and Moore
Give one example of a hidden-curriculum lesson that teaches conformity or obedience.
Following school rules / standing for assemblies / punctuality
According to Tikly et al. (2006), how does the British curriculum marginalize Black Caribbean students?
By focusing on White European history and making Black history mainly about slavery
Which functionalist claimed that education sorts and allocates individuals into the most functionally important roles in society?
Davis and Moore
Who argued that education reproduces social inequality by transmitting cultural capital across generations?
Pierre Bourdieu
Which New Right sociologist claimed education gives people opportunities to make rational life choices to enhance mobility?
Peter Saunders (1996)
Which Marxist pair argued the hidden curriculum reproduces workers who accept hierarchy and external rewards?
Bowles and Gintis
Ann Colley (1998) found that textbook images portrayed which subjects as masculine?
STEM subjects
Give one internal criticism of Durkheim’s view of social solidarity (e.g., multicultural societies)
Assumes a single shared culture, which is unrealistic in multicultural societies.
Name one New Right thinker who claimed that marketization and parental choice raise school standards.
Chubb and Moe (1990)
Name one piece of research evidence showing higher education promotes intergenerational mobility in the UK.
Sutton Trust (2021)
How does Giroux (2011) describe the hidden curriculum’s support for neoliberal ideology?
It trains students through exam-centric teaching so that they can acquire market-oriented skills, so that schools can rank high on league tables; schools thus try to "win at all costs" while students believe all that matters is exam grades
What did Mackenzie (1997) find about gender stereotyping in vocational placements?
Girls were disproportionately placed in caring roles (e.g., childcare) regardless of their preferences
Which sociologist argued that functionalist role allocation is flawed because the importance of jobs is socially constructed, not objectively measured?
Melvin Tumin (1953)
Which perspective believes in more state intervention to ensure equality of opportunity, and give one policy example?
Social Democratic; e.g., Comprehensive Education reforms or Pupil Premium
According to Bourdieu, what form of capital disadvantages working-class students and limits social mobility?
Cultural capital
From a functionalist perspective, explain how the hidden curriculum supports the economy.
By promoting individual achievement and teamwork, it creates disciplined, motivated workers needed for a productive economy
Name one way Dale & Spender (1982) argue men’s power influences the formal curriculum.
Men define and prioritize men’s knowledge, such as science content focusing on male achievements while ignoring female scientists