Ch. 13 Study Guide Unit 2: The Social Institution of Education The Sociological Perspectives

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 POWERFUL AGENT OF SOCIAL CONTROL! Establishing and reinforcement of socially acceptable behavior through positive and negative sanctions examples: 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 Self-fulfilling Prophecy in Education Student’s Action/Performance Positive Outcome Negative Outcom e 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 stratification example: 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.