A Functionalist believes that the individual is connected to the social system via their norms and values, this is known as value consensus. They believe that social institutions promote value consensus whereas a Marxist believes that social institutions promote ruling class ideology, where your position in society is deserved.
A Marxist believes that the infrastructure shapes the rest of the society. They believe that a small privileged class owns the society and that the laws are made in the interest of the wealthy. This contrasts with the functionalist beliefs, they see society as a system and that all parts are inter-related, they see that the laws are made in the interest of everyone within the society.
A Marxist believes that there are two classes, the Bourgeoisie who are the ruling class and the Proletariat who are the working class. Marxists say that the lifestyles of the Bourgeoisie have been paid for by the exploitation of the workers. A Functionalist would disagree with this and would say that we work for our status; they believe that success is from a personal achievement and that it should be rewarded.
Marxists and Functionalists also differ in their views on social order. A Functionalist would say that social order is based on a consensus agreed by all whereas Marxists would say the social order has been imposed by the powerful.
In conclusion Functionalists see society working in a harmonious way, with everyone working towards common goals and we are in general agreement about how to reach those goals.
Marxists see conflicting interests in society. For example there is conflict at work with the boss wanting you to work more hours for less wages, while we want the opposite. The boss however has the power to impose their will on.
Education
Both Marxists and Functionalists see education as serving the needs of society but they differ in whether it is an industrial or capitalist society. Functionalists see education as serving the needs of an industrial society with an advanced division of labour. They believe that it is important for the functioning of society that people are slotted into work and social roles that match their abilities. They see that pupils have their abilities and talents tested in schools so that they can be channelled into roles appropriate to their abilities and training, this is known as role allocation. Marxists would disagree with this and are interested in the way education works in the interests of the ruling class in a capitalist society. They see the education system as driven by the needs of capitalism which wants a work force that is easily exploited and accepts their exploitation.
Both Marxists and functionalists see education as a powerful influence on students, making sure that they conform to societies norms and values. Functionalists believe that this will lead to social harmony, stability and social integration. Marxists believe that this is directly in line with the kind of worker required by employers in a capitalist society.
The French Functionalist Emile Durkeim believes that the school is like a miniature version of society in that schools teach pupils how to work with others in a social context. The Marxists Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis argue that like the work place schools are based on layers of authority, known as hierarchies. They see teachers as giving orders and the pupils are expected to obey.
Both Marxists and Functionalists are macro theories that look at the relationship between education and other parts of the social system. They are not concerned with the individual.
They both also see schools justifying and explaining social inequality. Marxists see that if this inequality was seriously questioned it might threaten social stability, they say that one way of avoiding this is to promote the belief that inequality is justified. Bowles and Gintis argue that education does this by broadcasting the myth that it offers everyone an equal chance.
Functionalists believe that education provides a means for upward social mobility for those who have the ability. Marxists will completely disagree with this idea and say that with the exception of a few individuals, education confirms an individual’s class of origin, as their class of destination. They believe that education contributes to the reproduction of class inequalities between generation, and does not provide a means of upward social mobility for most people.
In conclusion Marxists are interested in the way education works in the interests of the ruling class in a capitalist society. Whereas Functionalists are mainly interested in the positive functions education performs for society and in particular, for the economy.