What is the functionalist theory of the hidden curriculum?

The Functionalist Perspective As Giroux (1983, p. 48) explains: The hidden curriculum is explored primarily through the social norms and moral beliefs tacitly transmitted through the socialization process that structure classroom social relationships.

What is the functionalist perspective on the hidden curriculum?

Functionalists also recognise that there is a hidden curriculum, but they see this is a positive thing: part of what teaches people the norms and values of society. Marxists like Bowles & Gintis think this only benefits the ruling class and capitalism.

What is functionalist theory of curriculum?

What is the functionalist theory of education? Functionalists believe education is an important social institution that helps to keep society together by establishing shared norms and values that prioritise cooperation, social solidarity, and the acquisition of specialist workplace skills.

What is the theory of the hidden curriculum?

The concept of the hidden curriculum was first introduced by researcher Phillip Jackson in 1968. The hidden curriculum is what educators teach students without even realizing it, through their interactions, modeling, and school or classroom culture; it consist of unspoken values, beliefs, norms and culture.

What does Parsons believe is the function of the hidden curriculum?

Pupils also learn about how rewards are achieved Parsons states that this achieved through the concept of meritocracy. The 'hidden curriculum' creates an uncritical, passive workforce by rewarding pupils who are hardworking, punctual and reliable.

The Hidden Curriculum | Part 1 of 2: Norms, Values and Procedures

What is the hidden curriculum in sociology?

The term “hidden curriculum” refers to an amorphous collection of “implicit academic, social, and cultural messages,” “unwritten rules and unspoken expectations,” and “unofficial norms, behaviours and values” of the dominant-culture context in which all teaching and learning is situated.

What are the key points of Parsons?

Parsons claims that human personalities are made and not born. They are created through the process of socialisation. The main agent of primary socialisation is the family. There are two separate elements to this: the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities.

Who created the hidden curriculum theory?

Summary. The phrase "hidden curriculum" was coined by Philip W. Jackson in his 1968 book entitled Life in Classrooms, in a section about the need for students to master the institutional expectations of school.

Is the hidden curriculum good or bad?

The general consensus is that hidden curriculum has the potential to teach, stimulate and foster good or bad lessons, behavioral pattern and character traits respectively. Some educators feel that hidden curriculum is creating more negative repercussions for students and society, than it is positive results.

Who believes in the hidden curriculum?

The idea of the Hidden Curriculum was was a key idea within the Marxist perspective of education, back in the 1970s. Bowles and Gintis explicitly mentioned it in their Correspondence Principle when they argued that the norms taught through it got children ready for future exploitation at work.

What is an example of a functionalist theory?

The Family. An example of functionalism would be the family. According to functionalism, the family is a societal structure that provides for the reproduction and protection of children. Families serve as a primary agent of socialization, fostering an understanding of expected behaviors, norms, and values.

How do functionalist and conflict theorists describe the hidden curriculum in schools?

Of the three major approaches to the hidden curriculum, the functionalist orientation is most concerned with how hidden curricula reproduce unified societies, the conflict perspective focuses on the reproduction of stratified societies, and symbolic interactionism more fully incorporates interactional context to our ...

What are the strengths of functionalist theory?

Strengths of the functionalist perspective

Functionalism recognises that people's norms, values, and behaviours are influenced by broad social structures. Moreover, the functionalist perspective also provides a sound explanation as to why most people conform to the laws and norms of society.

Why do sociologists believe that the hidden curriculum is an important?

This hidden curriculum reinforces the positions of those with higher cultural capital, and serves to bestow status unequally. Critical sociologists also point to tracking, a formalized sorting system that places students on “tracks” (advanced versus low achievers) that perpetuate inequalities.

How do Marxists view the hidden curriculum?

Marxists are against the Hidden Curriculum, where as functionalists support it as it is a way of learning norms, values and skill required in later life. Marxism says that education is used by the hegemonic powers to justify, maintain, and reproduce class inequalities. Meritocracy is a myth.

How does the hidden curriculum impact students in school sociology?

The hidden curriculum can also promote perfectionism and competitiveness among students, increasing the pressure to succeed academically and socially and affecting a student's mental health and well-being. Addressing the hidden curriculum could be a way to proactively support students.

Why hidden curriculum is an issue?

Hidden curriculum is one of current controversial curriculum issues. Many hidden curricular issues are the result of assumptions and expectations that are not formally communicated, established, or conveyed within the learning environment.

What is an example of hidden curriculum?

The hidden curriculum is all the other things students learn in school that is not explicitly taught or written down; concepts like friendship, honesty, fairness, the value of work, ethnic relations, and cultural differences.

What are the positive effects of hidden curriculum?

Hidden curricula teach students beyond the subject content of their courses. An educator can design hidden curriculum to teach positive characteristics such as dignity, humility, hard work, responsibility, and appreciation. Hidden curriculum has the potential to positively impact students and even change lives.

Who does the hidden curriculum affect and why?

In special education, the hidden curriculum can impact the extent to which students comprehend the lessons taught in the classroom, how they relate with other students, and how they express Page 2 Sulaimani & Gut, 2019 Journal of Educational Research and Practice 31 themselves (Moyse & Porter, 2015).

What are three examples of the hidden curriculum of schools?

The hidden-curriculum concept is based on the recognition that students absorb lessons in school that may or may not be part of the formal course of study—for example, how they should interact with peers, teachers, and other adults; how they should perceive different races, groups, or classes of people; or what ideas ...

What is the teacher attitude in the hidden curriculum?

In the hidden curriculum, a teacher is a significant figure to successfully create or shape students' character and personality. As such, the relationship between a teacher and students must be harmonious, so that the goal of creating a right attitude in students is effectively achieved without any obstacles.

Is Parsons a functionalist?

Although Parsons is generally considered a structural functionalist, towards the end of his career, in 1975, he published an article that stated that "functional" and "structural functionalist" were inappropriate ways to describe the character of his theory.

What is one criticism of Parsons ideas?

The main criticisms of Parson's work come from Marxism. Marxists criticize the idea that schools transmit shared values, rather they see the education system as transmitting the values of the ruling class, as outlined in Bowles and Gintis' Correspondence Principle.

What does Parsons look for in a student?

The Admission Committee considers many factors when reviewing applications. We invite students to share with us their individuality, creativity, and intellectual promise through the application process. We value the strength of each student's curriculum and their performance in each course taken.