Answer to Question #193946 in Sociology for Lischen ledwaba

Question

Identify the main ideas of functionalist theory in relation to schools in society.

Answer 1

Functionalist theory view schools as a social institution with two functions that are either manifest or latent functions the society set up. Schools perform the manifest functions by providing opportunities for socialization and social mobility. Emilee Durkheim, a French sociologist, established academic discipline in sociology to describe schools as social places that teach and equips individual with necessary social values to get along with each other. Moreover, manifest functions can also be described to enable social placement whereby students are streamlined socially to fit into various careers.

On the other hand, latent functions state that the education system impacts students' social lives by enhancing and improving the quality of courtship they build, social networks, group work relationships, development of generation gaps social and political integration.