Assess the functionalist explanation of the role of education in modern society

* Economic training - education provides labour free force to meet needs of the economy

* Social selection - schools help to select young people and allocate them to their abilities as adults

Along with these Functionalists views there are criticisms on education.

* There are not equal chances for all students as there are underachievers

* As there are different classes and ethnicities, there would be many different values ruling values are chosen as its thought to be the right way and fair to all.

* Also schools stream pupils into the class they are already in

The Marxist theory on education contrasts with that of the Functionalists view on education. Althusser believes that the role of education is ideological which is due to the transmission of cultural capital. Also that school prepares pupils for their place in society through the correspondence theory. Karl Marx believed that there were only two classes the Bourgeoisies - ruling class and the Proletariat - working class. He argued that the education system is a way in which people become alienated into accepting capitalism and are unaware of their exploitation (False consciousness)

Other Marxist, Bowles and Gintis believe that the teachers give the orders and the pupils obey. Also that education legitimates social inequality by broadcasting the myth that it offers all equal opportunities, where this is not the case at all. Vocational courses benefited the working class as it trained them and educated them with more skills so that they are able to earn a higher wage in the workplace.

Just as the Functionalist view were criticised as are Bowles and Gintis for portraying children as some sort of animals. Teachers are seen as the agents and pipils as the victims. This proves that Marxist views differ to that of the Functionalists. Although there is a similarity as both Functionalists and Marxists link education and the workplace (both structures of macro theories) together and of the values of society, but socializes children into possessing false consciousness about the world.

Interactionists deal with the issues of class, ethnicity and gender in education and also what goes on within the classroom such as behaviour for example between teacher and student, this is known as labelling. Interactionists Howard Becker says that teachers apply labels to students e.g. rebellious, and students end up being trapped in that perception and as a result begin living up to their identities given to them which is called a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Rosenthal and Jacobson believe that teachers hold stereotypical views about ethnicity, class, and gender which has a major effect on the student and their efforts which combine's with David Gillborns work as he deals with experiences of ethnic minority students at the hand of teacher. It proves R&J's theory of stereotypes, some teachers blame African Caribbean students more than white students for unacceptable behaviour even when it is identical - myth of the black challenge.

There are criticisms made on the Interactionists view. Their research can ignore larger Marco dimensions to the classroom such as government policy. Also the work of Paul Willis on the working class boys shows that some students don't accept the labels that other have on them.

So after studying the Functionalists, Marxists and Interactionists theories it would appear that the Functionalists views on education is useful in modern society as schools build a bridge between ascribed status and your achieved status even if it may be influenced by capitalism.