SOCIOLOGICAL BASES FOR EDUCATION

Role of Education in Relation to Social Change

John Dewey

• Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself.

Role of Education in Relation to Social Change

More than a century ago, Emile Durkheim rejected the idea that education could be the force to transform society and resolve social ills. Instead, Durkheim concluded that education “can be reformed only if society itself is reformed.”

• He argued that education “is only the image and reflection of society. It imitates and reproduces the latter…it does not create it” (Durkheim).

• People change their old pattern and behaviour by social process. People get knowledge for the social adjustment.

• According to Marx and Friedrich Engels education should be for the transformation of society, the abolition(end) of capitalist society, the movement towards socialism and the nurturing of communism.

• In this sense, ‘education for social change’ is thoroughly anti-capitalist education, infused with the values of equality, co-operation and social progress.

Ellwood Cubberley • “We should give up the

exceedingly democratic idea that all are equal and that our society is devoid of classes. The employee tends to remain an employee; the wage earner tends to remain a wage earner…One bright child may easily be worth more to the National Life than thousands of those of low mentality.”

-Pedagogical Progressives: -Sought restructuring of education and instruction;Seeks to bring all citizens into the governing and decision-making process. As such pedagogical progressivism can be characterized by the following four tenets:

-it rejects the classical curriculum in favor of a varied, undetermined curriculum that is based on the needs and interests of students; learning is based on activities rather than rote;

- schooling should reflect changing social conditions;

- the primary aim of education is to help alleviate social problems.

- John Dewey is the most vocal, well-known advocate of this type of education. His nature of the child is similar to Rousseau: children are naturally constructive, they are active socially, creative and curious – all of which drives education.

Relationship between the educational institute and Society

• Preservation of culture: School provides cultural identity to the student, so that they feel proud of their own culture and their will be lesser chance of blind imitation of another culture.

• Transmission of culture: As there are various students with various cultural backgrounds, there is greater chance of cultural diffusion and transmission.

Education & Society

• Creation of knowledge: - The direct aim of the educational institute is to impart knowledge to the students, It returns knowledgeable and skilled members to the society.

• Socialization of the young: - School is the second step for the socialization of the young, it teaches the various aspects of life.

• Means of social Control: In school, students learn own norms, value, culture, law, ethics which are the means of social control. The educated people are more likely to follow social compliance.

Importance of Education for Social Change

• Democracy is the platform where the social changes flourish; education is the main precursor of the democracy.

• Education helps bring the readiness among the social member for change. Educated people are more flexible for change as compared to uneducated people.

• One of the Indian scholars has said that an educated father can change himself only but an educated mother can change her whole family.

• Education of the backward and marginalized population helps them to come out from their world of superstition and their outlook will be broadened.

• Education at any level (primary, secondary, university) at any form (formal, non-formal, informal) can change the society.

• The schools and colleges help to change the society without damaging the cultural heritage of mankind both material and non material.

• Education is not obtained only through school; it can be obtained through movies, the radio, television, theatre etc.

• Such media exerts pressure to bring about change in society.

Political, social, and economic factors shaping educational systems and social change

• We have eyes for general vision given by nature but vision for knowledge and wisdom is obtained only through education.

• It broadens the horizon of individual thinking and perception, so education help to maintain justice and moral up-liftment.

• Students are the vehicle for the social change, while educating a child we indirectly educate his/her family, his/her peers, his/her community too.

• The teachers are also significant change agent in society, teacher can stand as a role model for social change.

• Some great teachers who have worked a lot for social change are: Montessori, Froebal, Dayananda, Rousseau, Gandhi, Tagore, Abdul Kayam etc.

• If there is equal opportunity for the

attainment of education, it can bring the social change.

• Education focused for the disadvantaged (girls, dalit, poor, disabled, ethnic minor, and language minor) can bring the social change.

• Special education for the social delinquent can bring social reform.

• Education is needed for the national integration.

• Education is required for the international understanding.  

Conclusion

–Education takes place in society.–Education is essentially a social process.–Social environment educate the child.–Education has special role to play for social

reform.–Education is a lifelong process.–Education is formal, non formal and

informal.

– Besides school, there are many educational institutions.

– Economic and political factors of society play a

dominant role in educational reforms.

– Education must be social in nature and develop

democratic skills and values in students

– Social change together with educational aspect is

influenced by urbanization, industrialization,

population growth, and religion, political and

economic factors.

Reference• Singh. S.K., Sociological Bases of Education, Lovely Institute of Education, Lovely

University, Panjab, 2009.• Gautam, T.K. Sociology and Anthropology, Vidhyarthi Prakashan, Kathmandu, 2006.• Bhatiya & Bhatiya, The Principle and Methods of Teaching,Doaba House, Nai Sarak,

delhi, 1992.• Basavanthappa BT, Nursing Education, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, New

Delhi, 2nd Edition, 2009.• Singh I, • Neeraja. K.P. Text Book of Nursing Education, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers,

New Delhi, First Edition, 2003.• Social Change Available at

http://carbon.cudenver.edu/public/sociology/introsoc/topic/unitoverview/sectionoverviewchanges.htm, retrieved on 30 Jan 2011.

• Phil Bartle, Factors of Poverty, available at, http://www.scn.org/cmp/cta.htm, Retrieved on 30th Jan 2011.

• http://www.unilorin.edu.ng/journals/education/nijef/march_2003/EDUCATION_AND_SOCIETY_WHAT_TYPE_OF_RELATIONSHIP.pdf