structural functionalism theory in education in sociology

Schools teach the three Rs, as we all know, but they also teach many of the society’s norms and values. If children need to learn the norms, values, and skills they need to function in society, then education is a primary vehicle for such learning. Perhaps the most important function of education is socialization. Specific research finds that social interaction in schools affects the development of gender roles and that teachers’ expectations of pupils’ intellectual abilities affect how much pupils learn.įunctional theory stresses the functions that education serves in fulfilling a society’s various needs. This perspective focuses on social interaction in the classroom, on the playground, and in other school venues. Latent functions include child care, the establishment of peer relationships, and lowering unemployment by keeping high school students out of the full-time labor force.Įducation promotes social inequality through the use of tracking and standardized testing and the impact of its “hidden curriculum.” Schools differ widely in their funding and learning conditions, and this type of inequality leads to learning disparities that reinforce social inequality.

These include (a) socialization, (b) social integration, (c) social placement, and (d) social and cultural innovation. Table 16.1 Theory Snapshot Theoretical perspectiveĮducation serves several functions for society.

Structural functionalism theory in education in sociology