Chapter 13 Education and Religion Education in the United States: Theoretical Views Inequality and the Schools College: Who Goes and What Does It Do for Them?

Chapter 13 Education and Religion The Sociological Study of Religion Why Religion? Some Theoretical Answers Tension Between Religion and Society Religion in the United States 

The Functions of Education Cultural reproduction. Social control. Assimilation. Training and development. Selection and allocation of statuses. The promotion of change.

Latent Functions and Dysfunctions The production of a generation gap. The custodial care of children. The creation of a youth subculture. The rationalization of inequality. The perpetuation of social inequality.

Conflict Model of Education The hidden curriculum teaches students obedience and conformity. Credentialism amounts to using diplomas as passports to higher status. Those of higher status can pass on their status-heritage in procuring superior education for their children.

Social Class and Schooling Schools are a middle class domain dominated by middle class teachers. Middle class or upper middle class children have likely been read to, and given opportunities to understand art and music.

Excellence Campaigns and Inequality Efforts to improve the achievement of American students led to mandatory testing. Teachers are forced to “teach to the test,” not to the goals of learning. Research suggests that raising teacher expectations of students, smaller schools, and flexibility in the curriculum would help.

Going to College 45% of recent high school graduates are enrolled in two or four-year colleges. The number of minorities in college has declined relative to Whites since 1975. Non-Hispanic white women are most likely to be enrolled in college and the group most likely to graduate.

Structural-Functional Theory of Religion Durkheim identified the forms of religion: Distinction between things sacred and things profane. A set of beliefs. A body of rituals or practices.

Functions of Religion At the social level, religion gives the normative order a moral imperative. At the personal level, religion provides support, consolation and reconciliation in times of crisis or need.

Conflict Theory Marx saw religion as an “opiate of the people.” Modern conflict theorists are more interested in how religion may act either to express or repress class and ideological struggles.

Weber: Religion As an Independent Force Weber combined ideas from structural and conflict perspectives. Interested in the forms of religion and their consequences for individuals and society. Argued that Protestantism incubated fundamental values, such as the work ethic which linked work to salvation.

U.S. Civil Religion Important source of unity for the U.S. Beliefs: God guides the country. Symbols: The flag. Rituals: Pledge of Allegiance.

Consequences of Religiosity People with higher levels of religious affiliation tend to be friendlier, happier, cooperative, and more satisfied with their lives than others. Religious affiliation has also been linked to socially conservative and authoritarian attitudes that maintain the status quo.