School can essentially be seen as a miniature society since it stresses that individuals follow rules of conduct so that the organization or school can continue to function and to carry out its responsibilities. This type of socialization can be seen in as early as a kindergarten setting where children have playtime. During this time, the children learn to share their toys with others and also to take turns playing. What seems like an irrelevant past time will ultimately manifest into something that is useful when the students enter the workplace and the world at large, where they will continue to be subject to acts of sharing and cooperation. .
Another important role of education from a functionalist point of view is social integration. In order for a society to function properly, all the people in the society must agree to a common set of beliefs and values. The United States of America itself provides for a great example of this phenomenon – particularly the rise of free, compulsory education during the nineteenth century (Cole, 2008). Unlike many other countries, the United States can be viewed as a "melting pot" country where its heterogeneous society becomes more homogeneous. What this means is that the many immigrants living in the United States are actively being assimilated to American cultural beliefs and values. Thousands of immigrant children as well as adults in the United States today are learning English, US history, and other subjects that ultimately help prepare them for the workforce and integrate them into American life. .
Another important role of education from a functionalist point of view is social and cultural innovation. It is impossible for scientists and doctors to make groundbreaking discoveries and for great artists and thinkers to come up with great works of art and poetry if they have not been educated in their respective fields as well as the many other subjects in academia that ultimately aid in fine tuning their brains into being able to make these discoveries.