Education and Religion Chapter 14 Societal survival: - depends largely on the socialization of new members - the children and immigrants must be taught norms and values of the society This process begins with the family doing the teaching, but societies will have formal schooling later on in life. Under education sociologist will study formal schooling.

Functionalist’s view on Education: education’s function is to strive to maintain the stability and smooth operation of society Transmission of Culture – the teaching of values and norms of a culture to each generation * School play an important role in doing that. Ex: history, geography, math, and reading The extra things taught are: 1. Patriotism 2. Loyalty 3. Socially Acceptable

2. Social Integration – serving to produce a society of individuals who share a common unity 3. Creation of Knowledge – serving to generate new knowledge and new technology 4. Occupational Placement – serving to screen and select the members of societies according to the work they will do as adults. Schools will find the special talents of students and put them in classes to use those strengths. Other countries will use test to show which direction to go for their future. In Japan student will take an entrance exam to see what direction they will head. Examination Wars as the Japanese call them has become a national event

The Conflict Perspective on Education Believe that the educational system serves to limit the access of individuals and groups to power and social rewards. 1. Social Control – sociologist believe that education is producing citizens who largely accept the basic inequalities of the social system and who do not question the existing order. Teaching values that center around obedience to authority. Students are taught to be punctual, to stand in line, to be quiet, and to obey and students who do not are labeled trouble makers.

Tracking – believe that lower class and minority groups are lead or assigned to the lower, or lesser ability tracks. These tracks lead students to blue-collared jobs or vocational jobs. * lower tracks tend to teach kids to emphasize conforming behavior, cooperation, and getting along with other people. Socioeconomic Status and Education: what is relationship between education and income?

Issues in American Education Educational Reform: - 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education published a report called A Nation At Risk - the report stated the U.S. had fallen behind in math, science, and literacy skills - the U.S. needed to create a more demanding curriculum with an emphasis on achievement, and stricter requirements for graduation The Commission also urged more homework, more discipline in the schools, better attendance, and a longer school day - 1993 the National Education Goals Panel, made up of teachers, and leaders from business, labor ,

state governments and local governments. This state governments and local governments. This panel was going to oversee the progress of American Schools. - the goal was to have U.S. students lead the world in math, science, and other core subjects by the year 2000 2. Violence in Schools: - a poll in 1991 found that 20% of American schools are concerned about the issue of discipline - many people feel the lack of discipline is one of the chief problems affecting the nation’s school - we are worried about the high number of assaults,

rapes, and robberies that occur in American schools - teachers have become the victims of these crimes over the years 3. Bilingual Education: - a very controversial issue in American education. - 1974 Supreme Court ruling indicating that school must provide language programs

The Sociology of Religion: Humans have searched for answers to the ultimate questions of life and death. Emile Durkheim states that societies have tried to satisfy these needs by making a sharp distinction between the sacred and the profane. - religion is a universal phenomenon - religion’s form will vary from society to society and even within a single society over time - no one thing is considered to be sacred by everyone on earth - religion is a social creation

- sociologists are not concerned with truth or falsity of any - sociologists are not concerned with truth or falsity of any religion, they are focus on the social characteristics of religion and the consequences that religion has for society The Function of Religion: 1. Social Cohesion: the strengthening of bonds among people. - a society with a variety of religions have become spots of hostile and continuous conflict (ex: Pakistan, also the Middle East) - Emilie Durkheim found suicide rates lower among people who had strong attachments to religious group. The groups provided these people with support and purpose.

2. Social Control: encouraging conformity to the norms of society - religion can offer individuals a way to rid themselves of guilt for straying from acceptable norms and values 3. Emotional Support: helping people during difficult times - people turn to religion to help themselves endure disappointments, suffering, and deprivations. Religion will provide comfort and a belief that harsh circumstances have a special purpose.

The Nature of Religion: All religion contain certain basic elements: 1. Rituals: an established pattern of behavior through which a group of believers experiences the sacred. - ritual behavior is a part of every religion - rituals often are used to mark changes in status: ex surrounding birth, marriage, and death - can be used to unite believers and reinforce faith: ex prayer meetings, worship services, and religious feasts - some rituals involve asking divine beings to intervene in human affairs, while others rituals focus on giving thanks to divine

beings for benefits that have been received 2. Belief Systems: 1. Animism – a belief system in which the spirits are active in influencing human life. Animals, rivers, mountains, and even the wind are believed to contain spirits - Shamanism – belief system in which spirits communicate only with one person acknowledged as a specialist. - Totemism – belief in a kinship between humans and animals or natural objects 2. Theism – the belief in a god or gods. The god is considered a divine power worthy of worship who is thought to be interested in human existence - Monotheism – the belief in one god. Ex Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. - Polytheism – the belief in a number of gods. Ex Hinduism

3. Ethicalism – the belief that moral principles have a sacred quality 3. Ethicalism – the belief that moral principles have a sacred quality. This type of religion are based on a set of principles such as truth, honor, and tolerance. Ex found mainly in Asia: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism 3. Organizational Structures: 1. Ecclesia – a type of religious organization in which all people in the society are members by virtue of their birth. Ex: the closest would be the fundamentalist Islam in Iran. 2. Denomination – a well-established religious organization in which a substantial portion of the population are members. Ex: Presbyterians and Baptists. - although many members are born into denominations, these organizations usually welcome converts 3. Sect – a relatively small religious organization that typically has split off from a denomination because of doctrinal differences. Ex: Assemblies of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Hassidic Jews - many sects are short-lived, but some, like the Methodists, become denominations over time

4. Cult – a religious group founded on the revelations of a person 4. Cult – a religious group founded on the revelations of a person believed to have special knowledge. - cults reject the rest of society - people who join cults typically are disillusioned by traditional religion and by life in general