Unit 7: Education

1. Unit 7: Education Sociology Mr. Nicholas

2. Social Institutions Family Economy Politics Education Religion Mass Media

3. The Sociology of Education • Education • System that ensures the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. • Schooling • Instruction by specially trained teachers who follow officially recognized policies

4. Sociological Perspectives • Functionalist • The world is a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable society • Conflict • Interested in power struggles • Symbolic Interaction • Focuses on how individuals interact with one another through the use of symbols and language

5. The Functionalist Perspective on Education • Functionalists believe that education works to maintain the stability and smooth operation of society. • The most important of these functions include • Teaching the knowledge and skills • The transmission of culture • Social integration • Occupation placement

6. The Functionalist Perspective on Education • Core Curriculum • The subjects comprising a course of study in school • Cultural transmission • A process by which schools pass a society’s core values from one generation to the next. • Children learn social norms, values, and beliefs • Teach students patriotism, loyalty, and socially accepted forms of behavior

7. The Conflict Perspective on Education • The educational system serves to limit the potential of certain individuals and groups to gain power and social rewards. • They point to two factors as evidence: • Social Control • Tracking

8. The Conflict Perspective on Education • Social Control • Control serves to produce unquestioning citizens who accept the basic inequalities of the social system • Hidden Curriculum • The school’s transmission of cultural goals that are not openly acknowledged • Teaching a set of values that center on obedience to authority

9. The Conflict Perspective on Education • Tracking • Involves different types of educational programs based on test scores and behavior • Conflict theorists view this as a way for the wealthy and powerful to maintain their position in society.

10. Review

11. Issues in American Education • Educational Reform • To address a decline in the level of the quality of education • Educational alternatives • Provides school choice through vouchers, charter schools, and options such as homeschooling • Violence in the Schools • Has led to the use of security measures, zero-tolerance policies, and conflict-resolution programs • Bilingual Education • Controversial, particularly in states with many Hispanics; has led to “English Only” movement

12. The Sociology of Religion

13. Throughout every time period and in every place humankind has lived, human beings have searched for answers to two basic questions. . . • Why do we live? • Why do we die?

14. The Sociology of Religion • Sacred • Anything that is considered to be part of the supernatural world and that inspires awe, respect, and reverence. • Profane • Anything considered to be part of the ordinary world.

17. The Sociology of Religion • Religion • A system of roles and norms that is organized around the sacred realm and that binds people together in social groups.

18. The Sociology of Religion • Sociology and Religion • Religion is a social creation • Things that are sacred in one society may be profane in another • Religion is based on faith rather than science

19. The Functions of Religion • Social Cohesion • Religion creates a sense of community and belonging which makes people feel less alone in the world. • Social Control • It encourages conformity to the norms of society, and provides a standard by which to be judged by other people. • This may limit freedom of innovation, thought, and social reform. • Emotional Support • Helps people endure disappointment and suffering, and attempts to provide answers to questions about life and death. • May encourage people to accept their social conditions because rewards await them in the afterlife.

23. The Nature of Religion • All religions share the same basic elements • Rituals and Symbols • Belief Systems • Organizational Structures

24. Rituals and Symbols • Ritual • an established pattern of behavior through which a group of believers experiences the sacred. • For example, baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Also, prayer meetings, worship services, and religious feasts and holidays. • Symbols • Particular clothing, herbs, chalices, crosses, books, and others are often used to emphasize the sacred character of rituals.

25. Belief Systems

26. Organizational Structures • Ecclesia • Most people in the society are members by birth • State-controlled and operated • No tolerance for others religions • Denomination • A large portion of the population are members. • Tolerant of other beliefs • Sect • A small group that has split from a larger denomination because of differences in beliefs • Cult • A new religion whose beliefs differ greatly from the norm • Their beliefs are often based on the revelations of a cult leader