Sociology Education

1- To create social solidarity (teaching to belong to a shared community)
2- To teach specialist skills (in the division of labour, especially in our society it's complex so we need people with skills.

1- Meritocracy.
2- Role allocation (schools sift and sort people into appropiate jobs.

Family judges by particularistic standards and society by universalistic standards.

Education sifts and sorts us according to our ability, the best grades get the best jobs.

Modern economy depends on "human capital" in order to prosper.
Meritocratic system does this best because it enables each person to be allocated to the job matching their abilities.

Main function to provide economy with skilled workforce.
Cohen argues that they don't teach genuine job skills, but attitudes and values needed in subordinate labour force.
Buswell found YTS channels girls into traditional low paid "women" employment such as retail work.

Tumin criticises Davis & Moore by putting forward a circular argument; how do we know a job is more important? Because it's highly rewarded, why is it highly rewarded? Because it's important.

Wrong argues that Functionalists have an "over socialised view" of people as more puppets of society.

It's a tool of capitalism to pass on the belief that society is fair. It legitimises inequality.
Education produces a docile and obedient workforce.

Meritocracy is a myth and is used to blame individuals for their failure.
Hidden curriculum are the things education prepares us for in the future like being on time for lesson, handing in homework...
Correspondance principle: schools mirror the workplace they're taught to accept hierachy, are motivated by grades to do boring homework and in work you are motivated by pay to do boring work.

Willis says that education doesn't turn out in obedient workforce, some kids form an anti-school culture.