chapter 14

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

After studying this chapter, you should After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the following:be able to do the following:

Describe the manifest and latent functions of education Describe the manifest and latent functions of education according to the Functionalist view.according to the Functionalist view.

Explain the nature of education from the conflict theory Explain the nature of education from the conflict theory view.view.

Explain the causes and effects of racial segregation in Explain the causes and effects of racial segregation in the public schools.the public schools.

Discuss the extent to which high-school dropouts are a Discuss the extent to which high-school dropouts are a social problem.social problem.

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Lester Frank Ward believed:Lester Frank Ward believed: The source of inequality in society was the

unequal distribution of knowledge. The main purpose of education was to

equalize society by diffusing knowledge to all.

EDUCATION

Functionalists Functionalists Stress the importance of education in Stress the importance of education in

socializing the young, transmitting the culture, socializing the young, transmitting the culture, and developing skills.and developing skills.

Conflict theoristsConflict theorists Note that education preserves social class Note that education preserves social class

distinctions, maintains social control, and distinctions, maintains social control, and promotes inequality. promotes inequality.

FUNCTIONALIST VIEWFUNCTIONALIST VIEW

What social needs does our education What social needs does our education system meet? system meet?

What are its tasks and goals? What are its tasks and goals?


SOCIAL FUNCTIONS - SOCIAL FUNCTIONS - Social processes Social processes that contribute to the ongoing operation or that contribute to the ongoing operation or maintenance of society.maintenance of society.

MANIFEST FUNCTIONS - MANIFEST FUNCTIONS - The intended or The intended or recognized consequences of those processes.recognized consequences of those processes.

LATENT FUNCTIONS - LATENT FUNCTIONS - Unintended or not Unintended or not normally recognized consequences.normally recognized consequences.


MANIFEST LATENTMANIFEST LATENT

SocializationSocialization Cultural Cultural Transmission Transmission

Academic Skills Innovation

Child Care Postponing Job Hunting

MANIFEST FUNCTIONSMANIFEST FUNCTIONS

SOCIALIZATIONSOCIALIZATION There is a need for the formal educational There is a need for the formal educational

system to extend the socialization process that system to extend the socialization process that starts in the family starts in the family

CULTURAL TRANSMISSIONCULTURAL TRANSMISSION Major portions of society’s knowledge are Major portions of society’s knowledge are

passed from one generation to the next. passed from one generation to the next.


ACADEMIC SKILLSACADEMIC SKILLS

- Skills needed to hold a job. - Skills needed to hold a job.

- Ability to analyze information- Ability to analyze information

- Ability to understand financial transactions- Ability to understand financial transactions

- Knowledge to participate in political life- Knowledge to participate in political life


INNOVATIONINNOVATION Need to transmit society’s knowledge, and part Need to transmit society’s knowledge, and part

of that knowledge consists of the means by of that knowledge consists of the means by which new knowledge is to be sought.which new knowledge is to be sought.

Learning how to think independently and Learning how to think independently and creatively is a very valuable toolcreatively is a very valuable tool

LATENT FUNCTIONSLATENT FUNCTIONS

CHILD CARECHILD CARE One latent function of many public schools is One latent function of many public schools is

to provide child care outside the nuclear to provide child care outside the nuclear family.family.

- The actual school day.- The actual school day. - Feeding programs – over half of U.S. - Feeding programs – over half of U.S.

school children are now provided free meals.school children are now provided free meals. - After school programs, both academic, - After school programs, both academic,

sports and pure child care provisionssports and pure child care provisions - Health and dental screenings- Health and dental screenings

LATENT FUNCTIONSLATENT FUNCTIONS

Postponing Job HuntingPostponing Job Hunting

- Requirements to stay in high school until age - Requirements to stay in high school until age 18 keeps those under 18 out of full time work18 keeps those under 18 out of full time work

- More and more young American adults are - More and more young American adults are choosing to go to college or technical skills, choosing to go to college or technical skills, keeping them out of the work force longer keeping them out of the work force longer

LATENT FUNCTIONSLATENT FUNCTIONS AFFIRMING SOCIAL BOUNDARIESAFFIRMING SOCIAL BOUNDARIES - Residential patterns tend to group people of - Residential patterns tend to group people of

similar socio-economic status in the same EL-HI similar socio-economic status in the same EL-HI systems.systems.

- Many top private colleges accept a large - Many top private colleges accept a large portion of their students from upper and upper portion of their students from upper and upper middle class backgroundsmiddle class backgrounds

- - In bothIn both settings this leads to children from settings this leads to children from like backgrounds being grouped together in their like backgrounds being grouped together in their social relationshipssocial relationships

U.S. GRADUATION RATESU.S. GRADUATION RATES

High SchoolHigh School

Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor’s Degree

19401940 19501950 19601960 19701970 19801980 19901990 20002000 20072007

24.5 34.3 41.1 52.3 66.5 75.2 80.4 84.5

19401940 19501950 19601960 19701970 19801980 19901990 20002000 20072007

4.6 6.2 7.7 10.7 16.2 20.3 24.4 27.5

CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEW

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Certain groups in society come to dominate othersCertain groups in society come to dominate others

The educational system is a means for maintaining The educational system is a means for maintaining the status quothe status quo

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

1. Socializes students into ruling class values1. Socializes students into ruling class values

2. Helps to maintain order and stifle creativity2. Helps to maintain order and stifle creativity

3. Produces the types of people the system 3. Produces the types of people the system needsneeds

. .


Social ControlSocial Control Conflict theorists conclude that the most Conflict theorists conclude that the most

important lessons learned in school are not important lessons learned in school are not those listed in the formal curriculum but, rather, those listed in the formal curriculum but, rather, involve a involve a hidden curriculumhidden curriculum. .

DEF: DEF: The social The social attitudes and values attitudes and values taught in taught in school that prepare children to accept the school that prepare children to accept the requirements of adult life and to fit into the requirements of adult life and to fit into the social, political, and economic statuses the social, political, and economic statuses the society providessociety provides for them.for them.


HIDDEN CURRICULUMHIDDEN CURRICULUM Schools develop personal control and social Schools develop personal control and social

skills in childrenskills in children

To succeed in school the child must master the To succeed in school the child must master the academic AND the hidden curriculumacademic AND the hidden curriculum

The hidden curriculum emphasizes being docile, The hidden curriculum emphasizes being docile, respecting peers and other non-academic normsrespecting peers and other non-academic norms

CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEWTRACKING – Screening and AllocationTRACKING – Screening and Allocation

DEF: DEF: The separation of students into streams that lead The separation of students into streams that lead to differential education based on ability. In principle, to differential education based on ability. In principle, American schools do not practice this. But consider:American schools do not practice this. But consider:

1. Within most schools there are college tracks, 1. Within most schools there are college tracks, normal tracks and vocational tracksnormal tracks and vocational tracks

2. There are public, private and elite schools2. There are public, private and elite schools

3. There are private colleges that admit based on 3. There are private colleges that admit based on family background.family background.

CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEWThe Credentialized SocietyThe Credentialized Society A degree or certificate has become necessary to A degree or certificate has become necessary to

perform a vast variety of jobs. This limits the perform a vast variety of jobs. This limits the ability of others to do this type of work.ability of others to do this type of work.

The credential does not necessarily mean The credential does not necessarily mean that the recipient can perform the job better.that the recipient can perform the job better.

If the necessary credential is a college If the necessary credential is a college degree, even if it is unrelated to the job, then the degree, even if it is unrelated to the job, then the credential acts as a gate keeper to the better credential acts as a gate keeper to the better jobs and may keep out malcontents, etc. jobs and may keep out malcontents, etc.

Median Income by Education LevelMedian Income by Education Level

Male FemaleMale FemaleHigh School DropoutHigh School Dropout $27,180$27,180 $20,341$20,341

High School $37,632 $27,477

Some College or Associate’s Degree

$46,562 $34,745

Bachelor’s Degree $65,011 $47,333

Advanced Degree $88,840 $61,228

AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESUnequal AccessUnequal Access

Due to residential patterns there is de facto Due to residential patterns there is de facto segregation in the schoolssegregation in the schools

There is also low college participation among There is also low college participation among some groups due to cost, inadequate some groups due to cost, inadequate preparation and the fact that college seems like preparation and the fact that college seems like a foreign culture because it reflects the upper a foreign culture because it reflects the upper classesclasses

Separate but equal has not worked for Separate but equal has not worked for minoritiesminorities

AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES E.S L. English as a Second LanguageE.S L. English as a Second Language There is debate whether to teach in multiple There is debate whether to teach in multiple

languages until children become proficient or languages until children become proficient or whether to teach in English only and force whether to teach in English only and force assimilation.assimilation. 6.3 million children aged 5 to 17, or 14%, speak a 6.3 million children aged 5 to 17, or 14%, speak a

language other than English at home. language other than English at home. Another 3.2 million elementary and secondary school Another 3.2 million elementary and secondary school

students are classified as having limited English students are classified as having limited English proficiencyproficiency..

AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES

High-School DropoutsHigh-School Dropouts Highest drop out rate is among hispanicsHighest drop out rate is among hispanics 10% of males, and 8% of females drop out10% of males, and 8% of females drop out Dropping out affects not only those who leave Dropping out affects not only those who leave

school, but also society in general for many school, but also society in general for many reasons:reasons: They pay less in taxesThey pay less in taxes They have increased demand for social services They have increased demand for social services

including welfare, medical assistance, and including welfare, medical assistance, and unemployment compensation.unemployment compensation.

Dropouts have poorer health.Dropouts have poorer health. Half of all state prison inmates did not complete high Half of all state prison inmates did not complete high

school, while they are only17% of the populationschool, while they are only17% of the population


HOME SCHOOLINGHOME SCHOOLING There are three main reasons why parents There are three main reasons why parents

choose to home school :choose to home school :

Concerned about the school environment Concerned about the school environment Provide religious or moral instructionProvide religious or moral instruction They are dissatisfied with the academic They are dissatisfied with the academic

instruction available at the available schools instruction available at the available schools


STANDARDIZED TESTINGSTANDARDIZED TESTING

Much criticism has been leveled at standardized Much criticism has been leveled at standardized tests. tests.

The testing services say the tests merely try to The testing services say the tests merely try to chart, scientifically and objectively, different chart, scientifically and objectively, different levels of mental achievement and aptitude. levels of mental achievement and aptitude.

The critics assert that the tests are invalid The critics assert that the tests are invalid academically and biased against minorities.academically and biased against minorities.

AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES GENDER BIAS - 2 TYPESGENDER BIAS - 2 TYPES At the academic level there continues to be At the academic level there continues to be

more favorable treatment of males by teachers, more favorable treatment of males by teachers, and less attention being payed to females and less attention being payed to females

However, the socialization process of schools However, the socialization process of schools tends to more harshly affect males who are tends to more harshly affect males who are more prone to act out.more prone to act out.


THE GIFTEDTHE GIFTED Many feel that the gifted are being shortchanged Many feel that the gifted are being shortchanged

in public schoolsin public schools It has been proposed that gifted children have It has been proposed that gifted children have

three atypical traits:three atypical traits: Precociousness-–gifted children begin early to Precociousness-–gifted children begin early to

master some domainmaster some domain Nonconformity, an insistence on doing things Nonconformity, an insistence on doing things

according to their own specific rulesaccording to their own specific rules A rage to master, or a desire to know A rage to master, or a desire to know

everything there is to know about a subject.everything there is to know about a subject.

chapter 14

Education

school children

school programs

education functionalists

differential education

nature of education

conflict theoryview

highschool dropouts

diffusing knowledge