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Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven. Education. Sociological Language. Learning: process of acquiring knowledge about the world and society ALL societies have developed systematic processes and institutions to educate Education – describes the processes and formal institutions to accomplish learning Parent

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Chapter Eleven

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  1. Chapter Eleven Education

  2. Sociological Language • Learning: process of acquiring knowledge about the world and society • ALL societies have developed systematic processes and institutions to educate • Education – describes the processes and formal institutions to accomplish learning • Parent • Church • Politician • Meida

  3. Sociological Language • Secular Schools • Public Schools (separate from religion) b/c of tax payer dollars • Non secular schools • Supported by private sources • Mass Education • Widespread expansion of formal education in the larger society • Children are required by state decree to receive formal education for a specific number of years • Credentialism • Process of certifying that individual possess the knowledge or skills to qualify for a particular job • Schools become society’s filters into the workplace.

  4. History of Education • No society can survive without it • Each generation must learn and master knowledge from the one before it. • Ancient societies that developed formal schools: • Greek • Roman • Arabic

  5. History of Education • Protestant Reformation • Roman Catholics: Only priests need to read Bible • Martin Luther – every Christian had a right / obligation to read Bible and construct own interpretation • Mass education became imperative

  6. History of Education • Democratic Revolutions • Citizens need to be informed voters • Mass education is needed

  7. History of Education • Sociologists link: industrialization, education, and democracy. • Industrial Revolution • Prior (80%) in farming • Today necessary to be able to compete in a global world (21st century skills)

  8. Equal Opportunity • All people should have the right to advance • US: intellect, skills, hard work = achieve material wealth • No other country – more open and extensive educational system than the US • 50% in school between 3 – 34 • 63% of HS grads attend college • Western European countries • 20% of 16 – 17 year olds in school • 10% go onto college

  9. Education / Stratification • Why are YOU in college? • Matter of Faith • Getting ahead includes making money • To get ahead one needs to stay in school

  10. Educational Attainment • The amt. of formal education a person has achieved=educational attainment • Status: Kids from affluent background generally end up doing well • 1976 (Bowles and Gintis) – data showed that those from the lowest 10% of socioeconomic background with identical IQ scores as those upper 10% of socioeconomic background attain 5 years less of education

  11. Educational Attainment • Race: • 1966 1st study (James Coleman) • Students predominantly attended racially segregated schools • White students out performed minority students (1976) • Lone exception: Asian Americans • Gender: • Historically - women lagged behind men in obtaining formal education • Today women earn 60% of all college degrees

  12. Educational Attainment Theories • Inherent Deficiency • Herbert Spencer (Social Darwinism) • Arthur Jensen, Richard Herrnstein, Charles Murray • AA – IQ scores and school performance • Richard Herrnstein • Inherent mental abilities lead to achievement • Smart people marry smart people = smart kids • Dull people marry dull people = dull genes passed on

  13. Educational Attainment Theories • Charles Murray (1994) • The Bell Curve • Innate differences between white and AA = 15 points • As time progresses difference become polarized

  14. Educational Attainment Theories • Criticism: • All agree that biology is important in intelligence • Parents who are tall tend to have tall children • IQ tests do NOT measure innate intelligence (just in a specific period of time against similar group of people) • Jensen-Herrnstein Murray: • Biases exist with race • Research shows re-writing tests in the language of the culture affects scores

  15. Educational Attainment Theories • Criticism: • No perfect relationship between IQ and School Performance • Motivational factors • Social factors • Intelligence does not guarantee success

  16. Culture of Poverty • Victim – Blame Approach • Oscar Lewis theory advanced • Mental attitude of poverty is fixe w/in the minds of individuals after extended periods of poverty • The individual who grows up in this culture has a strong feeling of fatalism, helplessness, dependence, and inferiority, a strong present-time orientation with relatively little disposition to defer gratification and plan for the future, and a high tolerance for psychological pathology of all kinds.

  17. Culture of Poverty • Criticism: • The delayed gratification (as referenced by Banfield) is a response to their condition not culture • It is understandable that the poor have abandoned middle and upper class standards simply b/c there are irrelevant. • William Ryan: Culture of Poverty is an excuse of abandoning programs designed to assist people OUT of poverty.

  18. Structural Disadvantage • Describes the way in which certain students are denied access to quality education • Race and class highly influence the type quality of education • WHERE a child is born affects the type of education • Overall federal contribution to education = 6% • Single most important predictor of academic success was family background

  19. Structural Functional • Manifest Functions: • Are intended functions • Technologically advanced societies demand a highly trained workforce • People are considered human resources and it is the responsibility of the educational institutions to continually develop what is now termed the human capital of society • Developing an informed citizenry / democracy requires literacy • Function of education to match the right person to the right job • Once in schools –sorting takes place • Examinations and grades

  20. Structural Functional • Latent Functions • Unintended consequences • Educated people less likely to be racist, ethnocentric • Creation of a sense of social solidarity in society • Promotes teamwork, tolerance, respect • Performs a “baby-sitting” service • “Bonding” is a major function of education • Socialized to accept what is termed moral order • (ie… pledge of allegiance)

  21. Social Conflict • Meritocracy – receive rewards commensurate w/talent and efforts • Believe that rewards are distributed based on a system where elite exploits those without power NOT MERIT. • School funding – poorer neighborhoods = less funding • Selective colleges – occupational success • Elite university grads – more prestigious job offers • Community college system – “placate the poor” • Lester Thurow (1980) 60% of all skills learned on the job – certifications, degrees, etc… is a screening process favoring upper class.

  22. Achieving Equality • NCLB (school choice) • Privatization of Schools • Catholic Schools • Integration and Busing • Segregation • De Facto • White Flight

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