Essay on Functionalism in Education - 1134 Words

Having attended public schools throughout my childhood and adolescence, I never was familiar with the term functionalism and its many elements. After observing and analyzing my field placement classroom I have come to understand the concept of functionalism to some extent. In general, functionalists â€Å"see schools as serving to socialize students to adapt to the economic, political, and social institutions of that society† (Feinberg, p.6, 2004). They also theorize that in order for societies to survive, they must carry out vital functions such as, attaining fundamental knowledge and acquiring essential skills and proficiency, acknowledging certain norms and values within their community, and recognizing authority figures. It is also†¦show more content†¦As soon as their teacher, Mrs. Root asked them to settle down, they instantly became silent. This is an example of an unspoken expectation of the teacher and is one of many hidden curriculums that I witnessed in the classroom. Another instance was during instruction; Mrs. Root had asked a question pertaining to shapes and who ever knew the answer, demonstrated this particular hidden curriculum by raising their hand. The functionalist concept, hidden curriculum, is best defined as â€Å"organizational features and routines of school life that provide the structure needed to develop the psychological dispositions appropriate for work and citizenship in industrial society† (Feinberg, p. 21, 2004). It is intended to assist in achieving norms, learning one’s position in society, and how to think of oneself. Hidden curriculum has also been explained as making the transition from family to the real world less difficult. This concept applies to the examples I gave because when the teacher asked the students to settle down, they instantly knew that they needed to follow directions. The idea that teachers are authority figures and deserve to be respected is instilled in children at a very young age and is expected to be upheld. As for students raising their hands when wanting to speak or answer a question, this has also been implanted in children’s minds and is a norm in today’s society. I conducted my secondShow MoreRelatedFunctionalism And Its Impact On Education1825 Words   |  8 Pagesthat combined to form to the structure of the human mind. Functionalism was the second approach to psychology. It started in 1890 and was influenced by Darwin’s view on natural selection. Functionalism tries to explain the mental processes, instead of concentrating on the consciousness, functionalists focused on the idea of consciousness and behavior. Functionalism also highlighted individual differences, which had a profound effect on education. Psychology is a discipline divided into many approachesRead MoreFunctionalis m, Conflict, And The Education System1729 Words   |  7 PagesFunctionalism, Conflict, and the Education System The structural-functional theory also known as functionalism is sociological theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Functionalists view education as a contribution to the smooth inner working of society. Education is a lifelong process, we are constantly learning new things and deepening our knowledge of things we already know. The education system works to prepare individuals toRead MoreUsing Material from Item a and Elsewhere Assess the Contribution of Functionalism to Our Understanding of the Role of Education.1422 Words   |  6 PagesUsing material from item A and elsewhere assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of the role of education. Functionalism is based on the view that society is a system of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture or value consensus (agreement) amongst individuals as to what values or norms are important in society. Therefore they take a positive view of the education system. As item A suggests they see it as a form of secondary socialism essential to maintainingRead More A Comparison of Marxist and Functionalist Understanding of the Role of Education in Society1130 Words   |  5 PagesFunctionalist Understanding of the Role of Education in Society Functionalist theories assume the different parts of a society each have their own role to play (their own function), and work together smoothly in order to form a harmonious whole (macro). The metaphor often used to describe functionalism is that it views society as a body, with the different socialisation agents —government, media, religion, the family, etc., and, of course, education—being like the different organsRead MoreSociological Perspectives On Life Chances Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pagesessay is based on two main sociological perspectives such as Functionalism and Marxism. It will evaluate the view that differences in the life chances between social groups which are dependent on various social factors affecting the society and individuals. Furthermore, it will compare and contrast these two sociological perspectives. Life chances can have a positive or negative effect on individual’s lifetime in terms of their education, health, employment, income and housing. They are influencedRead MoreMarxist vs Functionalist View of Ed815 Words   |  4 PagesFUNCTIONALIST AND MARXIST VIEWS ON EDUCATION (20 marks) The role of education is to educate individuals within society and to prepare them for working life, also to integrate individuals and teach them the norms, values and roles within society. Functionalism and Marxism are the two main perspectives which will be studied; Marxism is a structural conflict sociological theory whereas functionalism is a structural consensus sociological theory. Functionalism sees society as a whole. It is oftenRead MoreCompare and Contrast the Marxist and Functionalist Interpretations of Education in Society1582 Words   |  7 Pages Sociology Essay Compare and contrast the Marxist and functionalist interpretations of education in society. The role of education is to educate individuals within society and to prepare them for working life in the economy, also to integrate individuals and teach them the norms, values and roles within society. There are many different sociological theories that differ within the role of education within society that attempt to try and explain how society or aspects of society work togetherRead MoreAssess the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Functionalist Approach to Society1165 Words   |  5 Pagesmarks) Functionalism is seen as a macro-scale approach to society; it sees society as a whole rather than looking at parts of it. Due to this, functionalism sees society as a body (organic analogy), all the institutions work together to make society. This is particularly useful when observing society in order to understand the way in which it functions and the way in which all the institutions (organic analogy: organs within the body) work together to sustain society as a whole. Functionalism beingRead MoreThe Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, And Conflict Theory1040 Words   |  5 Pagesothers, and how others influence the individual behaviors that impact society in a micro or macro way. The second theoretical framework is the conflict theory, it examines the rift between the rich and the poor and how it affects the quality of education, health care, and living condition of said group. Thirdly, the functionalist theory, which compares society to a system of interrelated parts, it’s a social system not just an individual. Each frame work plays part in the issue when an economy declinesRead MoreCompare and Contrast of 3 Sociology Theories1162 Words   |  5 Pagesmicrosociology and macrosociology (Sociology). The level of microsociology studies is on a smaller perspective, as macrosociology is the study of society on a larger analysis. Today, sociology has three major theories: symbolic interactionism, functionalism and conflict. â€Å"Symbolic interaction refers to the patterns of communication, interpretation and adjustment between individuals,† (Baird and Kaufmann) humans will interpret different meanings in everyday life, from having a conversation or using