Functionalists believe that all parts of society function together to contribute to over society in a positive way. Emile Durkheim, a functionalist, saw the education system as a transmission of society's norms and values. He also said it promotes a feeling of homogeneity between people. His emphasis was on schools creating cooperation and a sense of social solidarity. He described education as a bridge between the home and wider society, preparing individuals for their roles in later life. He also saw the positive link between schools rues and the rules of society, teaching children accepted rules from an early age.

Parsons was another functionalist whose theories developed from Durkheim's. He saw the classroom as a microcosm of society bridging the gap between a child's ascribed status to achieving a status in society as a...