Durkheim on Education | A Level Sociology - Education

Summary

This video covers Durkheim's functionalist perspective on education, emphasizing its role in promoting social solidarity and teaching specialist skills. Durkheim believed education fosters a sense of shared heritage through subjects like history and literature, creating bonds within society. As society transitioned from mechanical to organic solidarity, education became crucial in reinforcing these connections. The video also critiques these ideas from a Marxist perspective, discussing how education benefits the ruling class and may marginalize minority groups. It also explores how education prepares students for a specialized workforce in a modern, globalized world.

Takeaways

• 📚 Durkheim viewed education as serving positive functions, particularly promoting social solidarity and teaching specialist skills.
• 🤝 Social solidarity is fostered by teaching subjects like history and literature, which help students understand their shared heritage and identity.
• 🏘️ Durkheim noted two types of social solidarity: mechanical (pre-industrial, strong bonds through small communities) and organic (industrial era, new bonds through shared experiences).
• 🎓 Education helps promote moral education by creating a sense of belonging and common identity through communal gatherings, celebrations, and shared values.
• 📝 The teaching of British values like democracy and tolerance is intended to foster social solidarity, though it has been criticized for marginalizing minorities and promoting a narrow sense of identity.
• 🔧 The second major function of education, according to Durkheim, is teaching specialist skills necessary for a modern, diverse workforce.
• 🎯 The national curriculum and subject choices in schools prepare students for specific career paths, emphasizing the need for specialist skills in the workforce.
• 📊 Standardized assessments like GCSEs and A-levels test students for specific skills and are seen as a way to ensure the effective teaching of specialist skills.
• 🌍 Globalization has influenced education, with students now being taught skills to compete in a global marketplace and address global issues.
• 🛠️ Critics, particularly from Marxist and feminist perspectives, argue that education serves the interests of the ruling class, creates job market competition, and perpetuates inequalities in employment and gender roles.

Q & A

What are the two main functions of education according to Durkheim?

Durkheim identified two main functions of education: promoting social solidarity and teaching specialist skills. Social solidarity fosters a sense of shared heritage and identity, while specialist skills prepare individuals for the complex division of labor in modern society.

How does education promote social solidarity according to Durkheim?

Education promotes social solidarity by teaching students about their shared heritage through subjects like history, literature, and religion. These subjects give students a sense of belonging to a common culture and community.

What is the difference between mechanical and organic solidarity?

Mechanical solidarity refers to traditional bonds based on shared beliefs, such as those in pre-industrial societies. Organic solidarity emerges in modern societies with more complex divisions of labor, where people form bonds based on shared experiences in work or urban environments.

How does Durkheim's idea of organic solidarity differ from mechanical solidarity in relation to social change?

Mechanical solidarity, common in pre-industrial societies, was based on shared traditions and community bonds. Organic solidarity, which developed after industrialization, is based on interdependence and the need for collaboration in a more complex society, replacing the traditional bonds with new forms of social cohesion.

How does education contribute to the teaching of specialist skills in modern society?

Education contributes by providing formal training in specific areas necessary for the modern workforce. Through subjects like mathematics, sciences, and vocational training, education equips individuals with the specialized knowledge required for various professions.

What role does the national curriculum play in teaching specialist skills?

The national curriculum outlines the knowledge and skills students need to acquire, helping prepare them for future employment. It includes foundational subjects like literacy and numeracy, as well as advanced subjects for professional specialization.

What are some contemporary examples of policies that promote social solidarity through education?

Examples include the 2013 curriculum reforms under Michael Gove, which emphasized a 'British identity' by focusing on British history and literature, and the introduction of British values like democracy and tolerance to counteract extremism.

What criticisms do Marxists offer about Durkheim’s views on education?

Marxists argue that education primarily benefits the ruling class by promoting their history, literature, and values. They also suggest that education fosters fragmented knowledge, creating workers who serve the needs of the capitalist system rather than the broader society.

What concerns have been raised about the teaching of British values in schools?

Critics argue that teaching British values, especially the emphasis on 'tolerance' of different faiths, may marginalize minority ethnic groups. The focus on British history and literature is also seen as exclusionary, potentially ignoring the contributions of other cultures.

How do feminists critique the teaching of specialist skills in education?

Feminists argue that the education system reinforces gender hierarchies by discouraging girls from pursuing subjects in traditionally male-dominated fields like engineering and chemistry, while promoting roles seen as less skilled, such as nursing and teaching.