FUNCTIONAL THEORY

Prepared by: SALES, JERSON C.

 Functional Theory

 It is otherwise known as structural functionalism,

concensus, or equilibrium theory.
 A comprehensive paradigm originally proposed
by Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons.
 Today, the theory is considered obsolete by some
sociologist, but remains to be a useful framework
for understanding the school, despite its
limitations.
Romantic and Ideal Views on
Education and Schooling
Emanating from Functional
Theory
1. Education is the great equalizer of the poor and the rich in
the society.
2. Education is a solution to all individual, societal, and global
problems.
3. Education promotes intercultural harmony , human
liberation, and development.
4. Education is an agent toward ending discrimination,
conflict and violence.
5. Education is an essential component in the preparation for
national and global citizenship.
Cont ...
6. Education is a tool for the attainment of social efficiency
and social effectiveness in a multicultural society.
7. Education is the country's last straw of hope for catching up
with her neighbors.
8. Education is a ticket away from poverty.
9. School promotes political integration and develops a sense
of national identity.
10. School is the institution that fulfills the social responsibility
of preparing the future generation of any modern society.
 Functional View on Society
•Functionalist view that all societies have
needs.
Functionalist view that society is a whole
living organism, which has autonomous,
specialized, interrelated, and
interdependent parts.
• Social institutions play a function
(it's own "job to do") in the life of the
total organism
• Social Stability is achieved through
institutions playing their part.
• Consensus hold parts and members in
the society together.
• Social Problems is viewed as
disruptions , and these may pose danger
to the system's total function and
equilibrium.
 Functional View on School
 Functional theory viewed school as an
essential to the process of addressing all
societal goals and concerns.
 Functionalism seeks to explain how schools
help society adjust and adapt to changing
social conditions.
 Schools act as a rational means of selecting
and preparing people to assume various
positions according to their abilities.
 The role of the school in this perspective us to
explain the different parts of society (it's social
institutions) in terms of their functions and how
their interrelationships contribute to societal well
being and progress.
 Key Ideas Associated with
Functional Theory
Two Key Ideas Associated with Functional
Theory
1. Role differentiation
-It stresses that there are various roles that
have to be fulfilled in a given society.
- Schools have the function to ensure that
every member of the society is competent
and trained to fulfill these roles.
2. Social solidarity
- it guarantees that people occupying different roles
in the society have a fair level of importance.
- stability is established when people accept their
roles and positions and view them as mechanism to
an orderly and fully functioning society.
 Presuppositions of Functional Theory
• First assumption:
There is meritocratic society where high status positions are
achieved on the basis of merit, rather than ascribed or passed
on from parent to child.
-Meritocracy emphasizes the equal chances of everyone to
obtain educational success in the society.
-Meritocracy is made possible through schooling because
intelligent, talented and skills are elevated in the social
hierarchy as compared to their counterparts.
 •Second assumption
There is an "expert society" which depends
preeminently on rational knowledge for economic
growth and smooth running society.
- This assumption stresses the requirement of a more
highly trained or specialized individuals.
- Education creates new occupations and new
specializations.
 •Third assumption
The existence of a "democratic society".
- Functionalist believe that with a democratic
society, people are able to move gradually toward
the achievement of humane goals, social justice,
acceptance of diversity and a more fulfilling life.
 The Role of Schools According to
Functional Theory
• The role of school is to enhance the operation and
stability of society.
• It is the job of the school develop trust and respect
to the social institutions and to teach the young how
to cooperate with the people in charge of carrying
out the functions of the institutions.
• Schools are expected to socialize the students to
trust their democratic processes and
instrumentalities.
Thank you for listening :)