1. Sociology 201 Chapter 16 Education

2. Beliefs About American Education u Democracy can only be upheld by educated citizens u Schools aid America’s economic growth u Historians suggest that education helps citizens improve their socioeconomic position u Although education has acted as a force of change & improvement, it has had other effects

3. The Revisionist Critique u Some historians point out the negative qualities of American education u The 19 th Century “Americanization Movement” u Schools played an important role u Aimed at indoctrinating immigrants into the political order u Believed that education would help to head off political dissent and conflict u Thus, education functioned as a mechanism of social control, not to enhance democracy u Education can perpetuate class inequality u The poor often receive substandard education

4. Education as an Agent of Socialization u What do children learn in school? u Formal lessons- reading, writing, etc. u The “hidden curriculum” u Certain standardized ways of thinking and behaving u Charles Silberman found that docility is emphasized while outbursts of spontaneity, originality, & nonconformity are discouraged u The “organizational child” u One who is most comfortable when those in authority provide supervision, guidance, & roles to be fulfilled u Eventually leads to the “organizational adult”

5. The Political Impact of Schooling u Schools are used to legitimate existing power relationships u Children are taught simple forms of patriotism u E.g. respect symbols of authority such as the flag u Eventually abstract political ideas such as democracy are taught u The “Tooth Fairy Approach” u Students are taught slogans & rhetoric vs. substantive material u Research suggests that U.S. youth are limited in their political knowledge

6. Education and Inequality u Education socialized and performs the task of gatekeeper u Poor children tend to be reaffirmed in their poverty u Several factors keep the gatekeeper functioning u Expenditures on public ed. Differ from state to state u Local school systems rely on property tax u Teacher expectations u Tracking

7. History of Tracking & Testing u Mass public ed. Was introduced in the 19 th century u Many children of the lower classes began to attend u Most left early to work u Laws were passed in the 20 th century to keep kids in school longer u Higher grades that once served primarily upper class children were overwhelmed by those from the lower classes u Educators came up with the idea of tracking to accommodate these students u Vocational tracks were established for the poor while academic tracks were established for those destined for college

8. The Negative Consequences of Tracking u Assignment to a lower track carries a stigma u May create a self-fulfilling prophecy u Some may not see the value of school (lack of future payoff) u The emergence of a negative student subculture that is resistant to education u Perpetuate poverty & inequality

9. Analyzing Education as a Social Problem u Is it about power? Why or why not? u Everyone has different standards u Who sees education as a social problem? Why? u Who benefits and who is hurt? How? u What available theories explain the “social problem” of education?

10. The Link With Kozol u Provide me with a background u Does Kozol agree with the socialization process? u Does he agree with the gatekeeping function? u How have corporations hindered education? u Do the wealthy really care more about education than the poor do? u What happens to the poor’s taxes?