The differentiation of family and school education: historical conditions and current tensions

Abstract

The genesis of the education system is linked with the rapid expansion of school education in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The genesis of the education system therefore brought about a primary form of differentiation in the education system, viz. the differentiation between family and school. Family education and school education can be seen as differentiated units of a more encompassing unit. This paper explores changes in the relationship between these subsystems with the help of systems theory. We particularly discuss tensions between families and schools that have emerged in recent decades as a consequence of the growing societal impact and status of formal schooling. Highlighting the heterogeneity that exists within the education system, we argue that loose coupling, instead of strict coupling, may have major advantages for the primary subsystems of the education system. In the concluding section, we call for more careful reflections within the education system on the pressures and tensions between its primary subsystems.