sociological analysis of education theories of schooling
TRANSCRIPT
A Sociological Perspective
• Sociology is concerned with the structure of society and the roles people play
• Psychology vs. Sociology• Schooling vs. Education
Theoretical Frameworks
• Theories are ways of organizing and explaining the world in which we live
• Informal “tacit” theories vs. formal theories
• Educational theories change over time and (cultural) space.
The Explanatory Function of Theory
• What theories would you use to explain the following questions?• Why are some students more successful in
school than others?• Why is teaching frequently not respected
as a profession?• Why is the public dissatisfied with school in
general, but satisfied with their own children’s education?
Theories of Schooling
• Functionalism• Functionalism is a theory of social
transmission• Functionalists draw on Evolution in the
natural sciences• Living organisms (societies) fulfill basic
functions to survive• They develop specialized structures to carry out
those functions• The overall health of the organism (society)
depends upon the health of each structure
Theories of Schooling
• Functionalism• Social structures (institutions)
• Family• Government• Religion• Economic system• Education
• Functions or purposes• Reproduction (recruit or produce new members)• Distribute goods and services• Allocate power• Transmit rules, customs, appropriate behaviors
Theories of Schooling
• Functionalism• Social Transmission is probably the most
important function of social institutions.• Family• Religion• Schools
• Functionalists claim that if one socializing institution is not fulfilling its function, another will take over that role to retain equilibriumequilibrium
Functionalism & Purposes of Schooling
• Intellectual Purposes• Acquisition of cognitive skills• Acquisition of knowledge• Acquisition of inquiry skills
• Political Purposes• Educate future citizens • Promote patriotism• Promote assimilation of immigrants• Insure order, public civility and conformity
to laws
Functionalism & Purposes of Schooling
• Economic Purposes• Prepare students for later work roles• Select and train the labor force needed by society
• Social Purposes• Promote a sense of social and moral responsibility • Serve as a site for the solution or resolution of
social problems• Supplement the efforts of other institutions of
socialization such as the family and the church
Conflict Theory
• A response to Functionalism• Too static• Doesn’t account for struggles/clashes
among various social groups• Accepts inequalities
(social/economic/political) as “normal”
Conflict Theory
• Like Functionalism, conflict theories are theories of social transmission
• Reproduction Theory• Rather than promoting democracy, social
mobility and equality, schools reproduce the ideology of the dominant groups in society
Types of Reproduction
• Economic reproduction (Neo-Marxist)• Institutional “superstructures”
reproduce the underlying means of production.• Schools are structured like factories and
are organized like bureaucracies• Through tracking and testing, students are
sorted into class/gender/ based work roles
How Does Reproduction Happen?
• Structurally• Differentiation is the organizing principle of
schools• Space• Time• Roles• Tasks• Rewards
How Does Reproduction Happen?
• Control of knowledge• Explicit Curriculum- some knowledge is
“legitimate” some is not.• “Hidden” Curriculum- “appropriate” values,
beliefs and behaviors.
Theories of Transmission & Transformation
Transmission Theory (Functionalism)
Transmission Theory(Reproduction)
TransformationTheory (Critical Pedagogy)
Each social system, through its structures and institutions, must carry out certain functions to survive
Economics and culture determine the organization of the rest of society
Meaning is constructed through social interaction. Power tends to define social institutions
Equilibrium is normal; disorder/conflict is pathological
Conflict and change are normal/contribute to a system’s health
Actions are dictated by role expectations & personal qualities
Macro Level Macro Level Both Macro & Micro
Goal is to understand roles and reach consensus
Goal is to unmask sources of oppression
Goal is emancipation & empowerment