Roles and Functions of Education

In pre-industrial societies, what were considered the main social institutions?

• Education, healthcare, and technology

• Family, government, and religion

• Economy, politics, and media

• Science, art, and literature

What is one important function of the school according to the text?

• To provide entertainment

• To gradually socialise people into workplace relationships

• To teach advanced mathematics

• To eliminate family influence

Before WWII, what proportion of Australian children did not attend secondary school?

• Nearly all

• Nearly half

• One quarter

• Three quarters

According to Van Krieken et al., 2007, when did the most significant changes in higher education enrolment occur?

• Before WWII

• Mid 1940s, late 1950s, and late 1960s

• Early 1930s

• Late 1970s

According to Durkheim, why is socialisation important for children in society?

• It helps children learn to read and write.

• It ensures society can reproduce itself.

• It allows children to choose their own values.

• It prevents children from working.

According to Talcott Parsons, what does the education system represent in society?

• An isolated institution

• A number of unrelated institutions

• One of a number of inter-related and inter-dependent institutions

• A purely economic institution

What is one purpose of the "sifting and sorting" of individuals based on educational achievements according to Parsons?

• To provide employers with "objective" standards for measuring suitability for work.

• To ensure everyone gets the same job opportunities regardless of ability.

• To eliminate competition in the job market.

• To reduce the number of roles available in society.

According to the text, what is necessary for a modern industrialised society to develop successfully?

• Affective relationships in the workplace

• The most able and talented taking on important roles

• Equal rewards for all levels of achievement

• Nepotism in the workplace

What criticism of functionalism involves the explanation of social inequalities?

• It provides a detailed explanation of power differences.

• It ignores the role of social inequalities created by power differences.

• It focuses solely on economic inequalities.

• It emphasises cultural differences over power differences.