**Functionalism Critique** **Symbolic Interactionism Principles**

Question: Question 1 Critique_of functionalism Despite all of the points listed above in support of the theory of functionalism, there are a number of criticisms of the functionalist approach to education (Blackledge & Hunt, 1985) . The first criticism levelled at functionalism is that the approach encourages the maintenance of the status quo and complacency on the part of society's members . The system of class or social stratification and its highly differentiated arrangement of role , status and reward allocation are not questioned. The fact that the education system gets all people to accept the state of affairs by instilling in learners the universally accepted values of equality of opportunity , meritocracy and achievement is seen as a positive outcome. Functionalism does not encourage people to take an active role in changing their social environment by asking questions about whose values are being promoted or whose interests are being served, even when change of this nature might benefit society. Instead, functionalism sees active social change as undesirable because the various patts of society will compensate naturally for any problems that may arise (Blackledge & Hunt, 1985: 13). The second criticism of functionalism departs from the observation that most modern societies are multicultural. The question to consider is how it is possible for the education system to inculcate in all children a single (universal) set of values with which all members of the society agree. Is this not a form of indoctrination? A third criticism points out that modern capitalist societies are highly socially stratified in terms of class, status, ethnicity, gender and so on. As a result, how can children from families in non-affluent parts of the stratification system ever compete on an equal footing with children from more affluent backgrounds? How can there be equality of opportunity in this instance? Functionalism as a theory of sociology of education tends to fit best when applied to a largely unproblematic notion of modern capitalist society. This implies that the propositions and assertions of the functionalist theorists about what actually contributes to modern society are open to empirical questioning 1.1. read the text above and discuss the criticisms of functionalism theory (take answers from the text) Question 2 Principles of the theory of symbolic interactionism Blumer outlined several basic principles of symbolic interactioni sm. • Human beings have the capacity for thought. • The capacity for thought is shaped by social interaction. • In social interaction , people learn the meanings and the symbols that allow them to exercise their distinctively human capacity for thought. • Meanings and symbols allow people to carry on distinctively human action and interaction . • People are able to modify or alter the meanings and symbols on the basis of their interpretation of the situation . • People are able to make these modifications and alterations because of their ability to interact with themselves first . This interaction with themselves allows them to examine possible courses of action , assess their relative advantages and disadvantages , and then choose one . • The intertwined patterns of action and interaction make up groups and societies. 2.1. read the text above and give the principles of symbolic interactionism theory (take answers from the text)