Unit 2:The Social Institution of Education

The Sociological Perspectives

Ch. 13 Study Guide

WARM-UP• With a partner:

– make a list of 3 “appropriate” or “expected” behaviors in school

– make a list of 3 “inappropriate” or “unacceptable” behaviors in school

– Next to each, write how you know—what sanctions (positive or negative) are attached?

The Sociology of Education

• A society’s future depends on successful socialization of its youth through the teaching of:

• social values and norms• necessary skills to continue the work

the previous generation

• All of these efforts are to ensure children grow up to be functioning members in their society, so the society will survive and prosper.

• -Every society has developed a system of education:

Informal education: -Socialization in preindustrial and rural societies mostly through the family.

-Norms and values are passed down along with basic skills (traditional economies).

-Informal education has give way to more formal education as society has become more complex and cultural transmission and diffusion have encouraged it.

Formal education: -Schooling—instruction by specialized teachers.

Education & the Sociological Perspectives

-Sociologists’ focus is on schooling (as opposed to informal education) since

the industrialization of most of the world’s societies.

Functionalist Perspective:

• Education is a system meant to maintain and continue the smooth operation of society through:

–Teaching knowledge & skills–Transmission of culture–Social integration–Occupational placement

Teaching knowledge and skills:

• transmitting existing knowledge through core curriculum

example: the classes you take now…

• generate new knowledge through research and problem-solving

• example: experimenting with new tech

Transmitting culture: • Passing on of society’s basic values,

norms, beliefs examples: U.S.-individualism, patriotism;

Japan-conformity, cooperation

• Tends to be done through the teaching of all other systems as being “less than” through glorification of history, and downplaying or demonizing of other societies’ actions/accomplishments

• POWERFUL AGENT OF SOCIAL CONTROL! Establishing and reinforcement of socially acceptable behavior through positive and negative sanctionsexamples: respect for authority, honesty, achievement

Social Integration: • Because many societies are

multicultural, school becomes a way for society to give members a common set of cultural values – social identity.

example: children of European immigrant in the early 1900s were “Americanized” in school

Occupational Placement: • School serves as a way to prepare & differen-

tiate members of society for different jobs depending on skills, aptitude, interest, etc.

• Testing, screening, etc. identify children at early ages.

• Critics say they put unnecessary stress on students, devalue some, “trap” students in a specific track, etc.

examples: gifted education, college entrance exams, ASVAB, vocational training

DO NOW• Turn to pg. 312 “Statistically

Speaking…”

• Analyze the information in the charts and answer the question at the bottom for each group (on your own paper).

Further Discussion…• What about gender? • Socioeconomic status? Click here

THE FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION

What do functionalist sociologists say are the FOUR purposes of education?

• Teaching knowledge & skills• Transmission of culture• Social integration• Occupational placement

WARM-UP:

• Definition Race—find the definition of self-fulfilling prophecy

Self-fulfilling

Prophecy in Education

Expectation of Authority Figure

Communication of Expectation by

Authority Figure

Student’s Action/Performance

Positive Outcome

NegativeOutcome

Positive Label Negative Label

WARM-UP:

• With a partner, think of an example of an expectation of student behavior that an authority figure (teacher, administrator, parent, boss, etc.) has.

• Create a flow chart illustrating the establishment of the resulting label (positive or negative).

Conflict Perspective:

• Education is a system meant to maintain and continue the smooth operation of society through:

–Teaching knowledge & skills–Transmission of culture–Social integration–Occupational placement

Functionalist Perspective:• Education is a system meant to sort

students into social ranks, limit the potential of some individuals and groups in order to gain and maintain power through:

-Social Control-Tracking-Status

Social Control: • Agree with functionalist perspective...• Disagree with the motivation—say it is

for creating “unquestioning citizens”• Use of “hidden curriculum” to control

example: raising your hand to go to the bathroom, talk, etc.

Tracking: • Assigning students to different

educational programs based on testing, teacher evaluation, grades, etc.

• Functionalists see this as positive—guides students toward natural abilities

• Conflict perspectives see it as creating “unquestioning citizens” through the use of “hidden curriculum” to control

example: raising your hand to go to the bathroom, talk, etc. trains students to “follow the status quo”

Status: • Western society’s placing of a strong

relationship between education & income/success.

• Functionalists see this as positive—opportunities to advance

• Conflict perspectives see it as a way to perpetuate class stratificationexample: wealthy families place high expectations to go to college, whereas lower-class families must often place high value on getting a “good” job.

Interactionist Perspective:

• Tries to explain changes & consistencies in society found in interaction and shared

meaning through:

–Student-teacher interaction–Interaction among students

Student-Teacher Interaction: • How students respond to teacher

expectations based on social factors such as labeling.

Recent studies:• Students stratified by class who receive praise

progressed, students receiving little attention didn’t

• More time given to struggling students = success when teacher made no class distinction

• Self-fulfilling prophesy: A prediction or expectation which

leads to behavior that makes the prediction a reality.

example: A student tries very hard and participates, despite sometimes answering a question incorrectly. The teacher praises her efforts, so she studies hard for the test and earns a good grade. The teacher gives her a coupon for a cookie from the cafeteria.

Interaction among Students: • Coleman Report—sociological report on

school inequality which found that above all else, socioeconomic status of fellow students determined student success.

—led to the shift from school desegregation to integration.

• Peer pressure—while it has been known

for decades to be an influence on negative behavior, recent studies have found that successes of fellow students can be a positive motivator.