Universal standards

Parsons viewed school as a bridge between family and wider society, operating on meritocratic principles: achievement should reflect ability and effort rather than family background. He contrasted the family's particularistic standards, which are specific to that family and its relationships, with school's universal standards—also called universalistic standards—which apply to all pupils regardless of family ties. For example, parents may judge their own child's behaviour through family expectations, whereas a school examination uses common marking criteria for every candidate.