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There are a number of different interpretations of the function of education and how it is involved in our society today. From contrasting sociological theories, the role of the educational institution can differ greatly. Firstly the different functionalist theorists or the consensus theorists ironically agree on the whole in their views of education. Functionalists generally focus on the positive contributions education makes to the maintenance of the social system. One major Functionalist thinker, Emile Durkheim, …

…within modern industrial societies. The Functionalist idea would place education in a positive light and claim that it is a necessity in the continuation and consensus of society. Traditional Marxists would look sceptically at education and allege that it is under complete control of the capitalist infrastructure whereas, neo Marxists would state that education as part of the superstructure does not strictly support and legitimate the economic base and is more of an independent institution.