First, educational systems perpetuate social inequality by using the hidden curriculum. Hidden curriculum is defined as unwritten goals of schools, such as teaching obedience to authority and conformity to cultural norms, (Henslin, 2007). In other words, schools prepare students for positions in work that are similar to his or her parents. The social class of certain children determine their position in society, Schools teach high class children precise speech and manners to prepare them for higher class jobs. On the other hand, school teach lower class students to simply obey rules, in order to prepare them for lower class jobs. Next, schools preserve the social class system with the help of intelligence tests. Some intelligence tests are in favor of children from a certain social background. In other words, some intelligence tests cultural bias that favor some children over others. Because of this, some children may score lower on IQ tests which will put them in less demanding classes. These less demanding classes set lower class students up for lower paying jobs. Lastly, educational systems perpetuate social inequality by unequal funding. For example, schools within richer communities receive more funding than schools in poorer communities. Schools with more funding have money for better teachers, supplies, and classes. Thus, the deck is usually always …show more content…
In other words, schools in the United States teach the importance of private property, individualism, and competition. Schools also teach it’s society 's leaders, struggle for freedom, and goodness of social institutions, (Henslin, 2007). From the functionalists perspective, schools teach social integration. For example, schools try to create a national identity by having students salute the country’s flag and sing its national anthem, (Henslin, 2007). Schools are also in charge of gatekeeping, which means education opens and closes doors of opportunity. Schools also use tracking, or putting students in one of the three tracks based on perceived abilities. Lastly, based on the functionalist perspective, some schools replace family functions. For example, schools provide child care and sex education. Thus, functionalists look at how schools teach knowledge, skills, and create a national identity which stabilizes society. On the other hand conflict theorists examine how schools maintain social division. In other words, schools help the upper-class maintain