SOCB26H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Meritocracy, Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theories
Document Summary
Two big ideas: positions in society: schooling is the most efficient means by which the most talented individuals assume the most important. School is the best way to have most talented individuals to fill those positions regardless of their race, skin colour, gender, class, wealth. This is both a moral and rational argument. Important to have status in school rather than have ascriptions. Functionalists view educational system as a means of ensuring a quality of opportunity in society. Increasingly, we are living in a knowledge society. Scientific knowledge is becoming of ever greater importance: we trade in knowledge, we require massive knowledge for industry/tech, schooling is vital for success in knowledge society. School is key place where the younger generation gets cognitive skills. School system is essentially engaged in process of reproducing and enlarging upon already existing in society: educational system as benefiting the needs/interest/ambitions of established interests (rich and powerful)
