Functionalist and Marxist Approaches to Education and Economy

Functionalist and Marxist Approaches to Education and Economy

Functionalist and Marxist perspectives differ considerably in the way

they view the relationship between education and the economy. Both

perspectives agree that the educational system provides society with

certain functions, but they disagree about the purpose of these

functions and more importantly who benefits from them. Functionalists

see the educational system as providing a positive educational

experience, which benefits the children and society. Whereas, Marxists

claim that the system oppresses and harms people, and that it only

benefits the powerful.

Functionalists believe mass formal education is an essential part of

industrial society, and that the expansion of industrial economies

brings a corresponding expansion in the educational system. They also

see the introduction of mass education in Britain during 1870, as a

response to the increasing demand of industry, for a literate and

numerate workforce.

Many Functionalists, such as Durkheim, claim that education performs

two central functions, which relate to social cohesion and the

division of labor. Durkheim (1961 'Moral Education') argued that

education transmits the norms and values of society to the next

generation. It therefore reproduces social solidarity, which according

to functionalism, is needed in order for society to exist.

Durkheim offered an explanation of how social solidarity is reproduced

by the educational system. He said that school creates a miniature

model of society, where the child interacts and cooperates with other

pupils whilst following a set of fixed rules. In this way, the ch...

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...basic level, on some sort of

conspiracy between employers and teachers.

To conclude, the Functionalist perspective views education as a vital

part of society, which turns pupils into model citizens and has a

positive impact on the economy and society as a whole. Education also

produces a diverse workforce, in a way that is fair to everyone, and

it compliments the requirements of the economy perfectly. The Marxist

perspective views education as a part of society that is vital for the

ruling class, because it reproduces the unequal distribution of wealth

and power, by turning working class pupils into conformist workers. It

therefore sees education as an ideological tool, used by the upper

classes to exploit the working classes.

Ref: Haralambos and Holburn (2000) Sociology: Themes and

Perspectives (fifth edition)