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Assess the Claim That the Main Function of Education Is to Maintain Social Inequality

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Assess the claim that the main function of education is to maintain social inequality
Some sociologist such as functionalist argue that the inequality of education teaches children the skills needed in the workplace and economy whereas Marxist believe education passes on ruling class ideology that supports capitalism, and femmist say that the education system is patriarchal. Some sociologist may also be argue that the education system doesn’t prepare people adequately for work e.g. lack of graduates in engerineering this indicated the education system is failing.
Functionalists say that education has three main functions to help society, not to maintain social inequality. Education sifts and sorts people for the appropriate job this is called the allocation function, also teaches the skill need in work and plays a part in secondary socialisation by passing on the core values.
However it may be argued that education is mainly ''who you know'' than what you know in some parts of society so allocation isn’t working properly. Durkheim said that education helps to create social order based on cohesion and value consensus and parson also describes school as a bridge between the family and adult roles of society as they pass on a universal value of achievement. Parson also states education selects children into appropriate routes because it is a meritocracy. Meritocracy is when social rewards are allocated by talent and effort rather than because of a position some was born in intro. On the other hand a criticism of parson’s view is there is evidence of differential achievements in terms of class; gender and ethnicity suggest that education is not a meritocracy.
Marxism agree that social inequality is the main function of education as they believe education prepares children for the world of work by giving them skills and values they need for low paid jobs, also that is

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