Question

Socialisation and Passing on society's culture - Durkheim argued that schools are a 'society in miniature' - a small scale version of the wider society in which people live and work. Education functions as a key mechanism (functional prerequisite) through which a new generation of children acquire the 'central' norms, values and culture of their society. This unites or glues people together by giving them shared values, what sociologists' term as a value consensus. This is done through both the 'Formal Curriculum' and the 'Hidden Curriculum'. By teaching everyone the same norms and values (the same culture), everyone one is pulling in the same direction: Social Order, Social Solidarity, Value Consensus and Collective Consciousness is Achieved!

Answer 1

Durkheim viewed education as a fundamental social institution for socialization, transmitting societal norms and values and ensuring social order through value consensus. Schools act as microcosms of society, teaching social facts that maintain social stability and cohesion.

Step-by-step explanation:

Émile Durkheim, a central figure in the foundation of sociology, defined education as a crucial mechanism for the socialization of society's youth. Through both the Formal Curriculum and the Hidden Curriculum, schools act as 'society in miniature', which Durkheim described as socialization agencies. These institutions, starting from early education like preschool and kindergarten, impart shared values, languages, symbols, and norms essential for maintaining social order and achieving a so-called value consensus. It's through this process that individuals learn to operate within society and thus underpin the dynamic equilibrium that makes a society healthy, stable, and capable of continuing through time.

According to Durkheim, social facts such as laws, morality, religious beliefs, customs, and rituals transcend individual members of society and are instrumental in defining societal behavior. This concept aligns with functionalism, a sociological perspective that sees society as an interconnected system where various parts function together to maintain social stability. In essence, schools are not merely educational facilities but pivotal social structures essential for embedding cultural norms and ensuring the smooth operation of society.