Sociology Notes

Talcott Parsons -believed that the school provides secondary socializations and
teaches the young to survive in society.
-It prepares them for adulthood.
-School teaches about reward and punishment.
-Parsons believe that school installs the value of achievements.

K. Davis & W. Moore (1945) they have a controversial take,

- They believe in role allocation; in role allocation they believe everyone with
equal chance of doing well with access to education, for instance; In Jamaica
we have free primary & Secondary education.

The critique is that everybody has accesses but their home like (Financial &
social situation) of parents and the wider community will import a child’s ability
to do well.

Davis and more believes in a system of meritocracy (government or the

holding of power by people selected based on their ability:
"Progress towards meritocracy was slow") in that person. Who got.
the highest ability and the rewards, are given accordingly. For E.g., Persons who
have studied for along time and invested intime and money should be given
the highest rewards. (Salary, prestige, recognition)

The education system is a part of meritocracy as it allows individuals to get the

required skills and knowledge for their occupation. This helps in role allocation
as roles and responsibilities are given according to one’s ability resulting in the
education process guiding cable students into specific professional areas.
- Sorting and placements
-Davis and more believes that students are separated based on there ability.
Education Is used as a selection magmatism to guide the most talented into the
most professional areas and important positions in society.

- Functional importance
The theorists believe that some positions in society are functionally more
important than others and cannot be filled by just any member of society.
They look at three specific areas:
-Dependence
there are some roles in society on which many persons depend on that role to
be executed expertly for instance; Many persons Can become leaders in an
organisation or country but not everyone will possess the naturally skill,
experience and attitude to carry out the job successfully for an extended
period.
-Skills
-Some positions require extensive skill training that is costly in time and money.
Not everyone is willing to make that investment.
-Scarcity
There are few persons with these skills and knowledge required to fill these
positions.

Page 41 sociology book