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Chapter 12
Problems in Education
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Chapter Outline
Perspectives
Functionalist
Conflict
Interactionist
Problems
Illiteracy
Immigration and Diversity
Race, Class, Gender
Violence
Higher Education
Cost of college education
Affirmative Action
Solutions
Functionalist/Conservative
Conflict/Liberal
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3. Sociological Perspectives
Education: the social institution responsible for transmitting knowledge, skills, and cultural values ina formally organized structure.
Functionalist Perspective:
Education contributes to smooth functioning in society
Provides opportunity for personal fulfillment
Provides opportunity for upward mobility
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4. Sociological Perspectives, cont.
Manifest functions of educ.
Latent functions of educ.
Keeps kids off streets
Keeps young people out of the job market for a few years
Serves a matchmaking purpose
Establishes social networks
Socialization
Transmission of Culture
Social Control
Social Placement
Change and Innovation
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5. Sociological Perspectives, cont.
Conflict Perspective:
Schools perpetuate inequalities based on class, race, and gender
Students possess different levels of cultural capital
Low-income children come to school with different competencies in language and culture
A hidden curriculum teaches students to be obedient and patriotic, perpetuating the status quo
Tracking teaches different skills
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6. Sociological Perspectives, cont.
Symbolic Interactionist:
Focus on the affects of labeling and classroom Interaction
Standardized testing and IQ tests lead to labeling
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Children see themselves based on the unsubstantiated beliefs and predictions of others
Herrnstein’s and Murray’s (1994) The Bell Curve
Argued intelligence is purely genetic and some groups (Asians) are inherently “smarter” than others (African Americans)
Labels such as “learning-disabled” and “gifted” greatly affect one’s academic experience
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Problems in Education
Functional Illiteracy:
Unable to read and/or write at the skill level necessary for carrying out everyday tasks.
1 of 4 adults in this category
Much worse for minorities than whites.
U.S. companies spend $60 billion per year to educate workers who are functionally illiterate
Not just a problem for immigrants but also for native born Americans.
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8. Immigration and Diversity
Most immigrants have limited formal education and few job skills, they rely on education to educate their children.
20% of U.S. residents over age 5 speak a language other than English at home.
Some Asian groups send their children to “cram schools” to help them be more successful.
Transitional programs for newcomers have been fairly successful for helping integrate immigrants.
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10. Race, Class, Gender and Education
Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954) legally desegregated schools, but today schools remain somewhat segregated
Schools with high percentages of minorities tend to have:
High teacher-student ratios
Less qualified teachers
Lower expectations of students
High dropout rates
Latino/a students face educational obstacles
Little opportunity to attend preschool
Few Latino/a teachers as role models
Fewer than 10% of public school teachers are Latino/a
Tracking (assigning students to specific courses) recreates segregation in the class room.
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12. Race, Class, Gender, and Education, cont.
Boys and girls treated differently in school.
Studies find teachers pay less attention to girls.
Teachers encourage boys to be problem solvers more by asking them more complicated questions.
Activities are geared toward boys who are “more boisterous”
Girls are starting to make up ground by enrolling in more advanced courses, but much work to do still.
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School Violence
School violence is actually down since the 1990’s
To reduce violence many schools use metal detectors and require students to wear uniforms.
Teachers often are victims of school violence as well.
New technology has helped deter some school violence but won’t fix everything.
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School Financing
Most educational funds come from state appropriations and local property taxes
Tax base in city centers is eroding, disadvantaging schools
Many schools are overcrowded and need major repairs
Solutions:
One proposed solution is a Voucher system, whereby families can “buy” education at their school of choice
Cut spending on administration and non-instructional activities.
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16. Problems in Higher Education
Cost to obtain a college education has risen significantly, many students must go into debt to get a degree.
Affirmative action
Taking race, gender, and ethnicity into consideration for admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and faculty hiring
Minority enrollments have dropped in many schools that have eliminated affirmative action
US Supreme Court (2003) ruled that race can be a factor for universities in shaping admission programs
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Solutions
Functionalist/Conservative:
Greater emphasis on teaching students the basics to prepare them with job skills needed.
Work on reducing dysfunctions (school violence, illiteracy)
Conflict/Liberal:
Major restructuring must occur in education to reduce inequality.
Interactionist:
Reduce incidence of labeling , help students develop self confidence needed to have greater achievement.
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