1. Chapter 12 Education

2. Education is closely related to the process of socialization. Schools are the social environments tasked with introduction children to social structures, rules, and behavioral regulations outside of the family environment. In the United States, when a child reaches 5 years of age socialization changes from informal (family) to formal (school). In the United States and other developed countries education goes on for many years. Educational attainment dramatically affects life chances. Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

3. Thinking About Education: Structural/Functionalist Approach Durkheim defined education as the process by which the individual acquires the physical, intellectual, and moral tools needed to function in society. He argued that education should provide 2 types of training: Training for life in society (moral codes, values, and norms) Specialized occupational training to maximize job performance. Robert Dresden saw other functions of education. Children learn to function on their own, to value achievement, that they are a part of society, and the norm of “specificity.” Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

4. Thinking About Education: Conflict/Critical Approach Education serves to reproduce social inequalities in society and reinforce the system of social stratification. 2 dominant views in sociology: Capitalist systems and education: class relations and the capitalist order are systematically reproduced with each new generation of students. Industrialized society and education: educational institutions and the specialized certifications linked to occupations serve to reinforce bureaucracie. Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

5. Thinking About Education: Inter/Actionist Approach Focus microscopically on education, specifically the interaction between teachers and students, peer to peer interactions, and the symbolism associated with the educational environment. Students acquire labels (good, bad, smart, slow, etc.) to reinforce experience and expectations. Interaction Order which can dictate and/or determine behavior Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

6. Education and Consumption Students have always been consumers of education. Education has been radically transformed in the digital age. Education takes place in societies where consumption is pervasive, and as a result education becomes commercialized. Of concern is the increasing intrusion of profit- making corporations and profit-oriented ideology into traditional public schools. Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

7. Inequality in Education Who Succeeds in School? Educational achievement varies by race, gender, socioeconomic status, and parental occupation. Students from the most socioeconomically advantaged families are the most likely to attain a college degree. The Coleman Report: How Much Do Schools Matter? The most important predictors of success were teacher quality and family background. Natural Inequality? Intelligence and School Success The idea that differences in learning are determined by differences in intelligence, and that intelligence is largely inherited and fixed. The Bell Curve (1994) Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

8. Inequality in Education Class Differences in Early Childhood Hart and Risley (1995) found that differences in cognitive outcomes are explained by differences in parenting (professional, working class, and welfare). Several intensive preschool programs have shown impressive results in changing children’s educational outcomes by changing the cognitive culture they experience Seasonal Learning and Class Differences in Achievement Comparing learning gains during the school year to gains when students are not in school Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

9. Inequality in Education Class Differences in Early Childhood Hart and Risley (1995) found that differences in cognitive outcomes are explained by differences in parenting (professional, working class, and welfare). Seasonal Learning and Class Differences in Achievement Comparing learning gains during the school year to gains when students are not in school Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

10. Inequality in Education Tracking and Student Outcomes: A cumulative advantage/disadvantage structure exists in education. Higher performing students receive more learning opportunities than lower performing students Higher performing students are awarded more educational opportunities over time than lower performing students The effects of advantage or disadvantage accumulate throughout a student’s educational career Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

11. Inequality in Education Who Goes to College? Students from the most advantaged families are not only more likely to graduate from high school, they are more likely to go to college and graduate. These students encounter a “college-going habitus: A set of internalized preferences and dispositions that are learned through experiences and social interactions. Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.

12. Globalization and Education PISA rankings: studies the proficiency of 15- year-olds in reading, math and science In a comparative study of U.S., German, and Japanese education systems, the following was found: Germany has the highest levels of achievement inequality because of its highly stratified system Japan has higher average achievement than Germany, but much less inequality in outcomes because it does not practice curricular differentiation until very late. The U.S. actually has the lowest average achievement and the least variability in outcomes. Copyright 2014, SAGE Publications, Inc.