According to the direction of educational function, educational function can be divided into positive function and negative function. This is divided from the nature of educational function, which is also called positive function and negative function. Positive function refers to the positive and good effects produced by educational function, while negative function refers to the negative and bad consequences produced by educational function.

This pair of concepts was first put forward by American sociologist Merton. In the 1950s. Merton divided social function according to its nature and form, and got the concept of positive and negative function. At the same time, he also got another pair of important concepts, namely explicit-implicit function.

The social function of education mainly refers to the reaction of education to social development. The development level of productive forces restricts the development level of education, which in turn promotes the development of social productive forces. There are five different relations of production in history, so there are five different kinds of education. A country controls education through its educational principles and policies, which in turn serves to consolidate its rule and plays an important role in social politics and economy.

Education is an integral part of culture and plays an important role in the inheritance and development of culture. The influence of economy and politics on education is often reflected by the development of culture. Education is also national and regional.