Outline and assess Functionalist explanations of the role of the education system.

As a theory which places heavy fierceness on the analysis of institutions and their relationship with gild, especially with regards to the functions of institutions, Functionalists place a world-shaking amount of focus on the statement arrangement. However, this perspective is not continuously accepted, its macro theory approach is often dependn as excessively wide bearing to be applied to the study of the education scheme as well as critics which dis identifye the functions of the education dodge as portrayed by functionalists.Nevertheless, its macro theory approach puts the education system in context and is therefore a theory which is not able-bodied when discussing the region of the education system. Firstly, it cannot be ignored that one of the main principles of the theory is that society is based upon consensus, agreement between norms and look ons. As an institution of secondary well-disposedisation, Functionalist theorists see the education system as one of th e main institutions which help to fulfil value consensus at bottom society, allowing society to operate in a round off manner.Durkheim suggested that the education system is an institution which helps to create a collective ken, uniting society into one body, with the system creating social beings. As put forward by Durkheim, the education system helps to achieve this through the depicted object Curriculum, brought in by the Education Reform Act 1988, which helps to create dual-lane set amongst all pupils throughout the country.Furthermore, Durkheim suggests that subjects made compulsory through the interior(a) Curriculum such as History and Religious studies help to conjure cohesion and social stability, minimising conflict within society through value consensus,- keeping social order. In this sense, Functionalism places significant emphasis upon the education system as an institution which contributes to the wellbeing of society.However, it may be that in naive realism v alue consensus does not exit, as today the transition of society marrow that there is not agreement about norms and values. Ethnic and cultural diversity may therefore be attributed as factors which mean that the education system is not an institution which unites society, as it may not be able to change the norms and values instilled upon members of society by other forms of socialisation, such as the family or the atomic number 18as of media young people are exposed to.Although, in defence, it is real much true that educational establishments do aim to create a collective consciousness through individual school ethoss and uniforms, which are in operation to reduce conflict within society. Critically though, these could be seen as polices which aim to stabilise the school learning environment, as oppose to society.In addition, it is true to say that the inclusion of Citizenship is evidence that the government and educationalists are aiming to drill education as an institution which aims to promote social cohesion, and indeed social beings. Perhaps it could also been seen, that in terms of the relationship between education and society, that the education system cannot necessarily make up for the diversity of attitudes within society,- to what degree can the education system compensate for differences in values and shape behaviours and attitudes?