Randall Collins discusses, in depth, his theories in his piece “Functional and Conflict Theories of Educational Stratification”. The first theory is called the techno-function theory. Collins believed skills are important in getting a job because technology is constantly changing. The two processes involved in this theory are the fact that the proportion of jobs asking for lower skills decreases meanwhile the need for high skills begins to increase. The same jobs require high skill requirements wherever you go! Collins states in “Functional and Conflict Theories of Educational Stratification”: skill requirements of jobs change with industrialization and concerning the content of school experiences.
Education is tied into these high demands of skills because in school is where these skills are learned. All over the country and the world you find schools offering different programs to help individuals succeed in the work place. Schools such as BOCES on Long Island offer electrical programs, nursing, culinary and other programs to give people a head start in specific fields. My own brother took electrician classes at BOCES and now is working for one of the biggest gas companies in the country and he thanks the electrician program he was a part of for helping him get ahead.
This is a perfect example of Collins’ techno-function theory. Collins fully believes this is why educational requirements for jobs is constantly rising everywhere you go. I feel because of the high demand for education (to obtain these skills jobs require), more and more people are either going back to school or even spending LONGER to obtain an even HIGHER degree such as a Bachelors or even a Doctorate Degree. Today, high school graduates are constantly asked the famous question “where are you going to college?” because nowadays, NOT advancing your education isn’t even a question. In order to make the “big bucks” it requires you to earn the skills from educational institutions.
When you fill out any job application, one of the very first questions are about your education, what courses you’ve taken that have to do with the job and so forth. It’s something you cant really avoid. And if you don’t have schooling, people look at you like you have five heads.
According from the Opinion article in Newsday titled “Nation Needs More Utility Laborers”, (http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/wheary-need-for-utility-workers-is-a-problem-and-an-opportunity-1.4226041) Jennifer Wheary discusses how in New York, companies like National Grid and Onondaga Community College run a utility worker certificate program that combines technology, math and science courses with on the job training. This is because they are trying to promote more young people to come into that line of work. So many people go right for the academic schooling while that’s all well and good but a lot of people forget about the trade fields. Companies such as Lipa, National Grid and other power companies have the average worker aging 50 years old. The fact that these companies know that education is a huge factor, they are offering programs that not only focus on the books but hands on experience as well. That is something you cannot find in a class room. Wheary states: "We need to rethink the role that high schools, community colleges and utility companies themselves can play in getting more students interested in and prepared for utility careers. And we need to give them the resources to do more. There are successful models in place at the local level, where these groups are working together to fill employment gaps. There just aren't enough of them in operation”.
When I first walked into an interview a few years back for a Clerical position at my job, the first thing the supervisor said to me was “what makes you qualified to even be sitting here right now?” Although it was intimidating, I was able to explain what my skills were. Then the very next question was “How fast can you type? Have you taken computer classes before?” And so forth. When I explained that I was an English major at Suffolk Community College and currently studying Sociology at Stony Brook University. I told her about typing, keyboarding and many other computer classes I have taken. She was pretty impressed and started talking to me differently. She came off very harsh at first but once she knew my background, she stopped. I found this incredible and didn’t realize at the time how having a certain piece of paper can change how people view you. I find this experience as a good example of Collins’ theory of techno-function.
Randall Collins really goes into depth defending his techno-function theory and even today we see examples of it everywhere. Our world is changing and we need education to keep up with the high speed technology and advances needed in our society today.
