Education

1
Education

• Functionalist Perspective
• Education is one of the most important social
  institutions because it contributes to the smooth
  functioning of society provides individuals
  with opportunities for personal fulfillment and
  upward mobility.

2
Education

• Education has five manifest functions in society
• Socialization learn appropriate behavior,
  attitudes, political processes, etc
• Transmission of culture norms values are
  passed on
• Social control taught discipline, respect,
  obedience, punctuality, perseverance, etc

3
Education

• Social placement identifies who are the most
  qualified to fill available positions in society
• Change innovation meets needs of students at
  particular times, conducts research publishes
  new knowledge

4
Education

• Education has several latent functions in
  society
• Keeps kids off the streets
• Establishes social networks
• Keeps kids out of the full-time job market
• Provides opportunities to find a spouse

5
Education

• Conflict perspective
• Education reproduces existing class relationships
• Academic testing measures cultural capital not
  actual intelligence
• Hidden curriculum certain values and attitudes
  are transmitted thru everyday rules and routines
  of schools

6
Education

• Credentialism gives class advantage social
  status to people who possess academic
  qualifications
• Meritocracy social status is acquired thru
  individual ability effort

7
Education

• Symbolic interactionist perspective
• Socialization in school can have both positive or
  negative effects
• Labels bring about self-fulfilling prophecies
• Standardized testing leads to labeling

8
Education

• What about homeschooling?
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling

9
Education

• Functional illiteracy unable to read /or write
  at the skill level necessary for carrying out
  everyday tasks
• Whites 16
• Blacks 44
• Latinos 56
• In 1993, 50 of those who scored in the bottom
  20 were high school graduates

10
Education

• Goals 2000 Educate America Act of 1994
• http//fcis.oise.utoronto.ca/daniel_sc/assignment
  1/1994goals2000.html
• What about school violence?
• http//www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/facts.asp
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_violence