Sociological Analysis of Education

Theories of Schooling

A Sociological Perspective

• Sociology is concerned with the structure of society and the roles people play

• Psychology vs. Sociology• Schooling vs. Education

Theoretical Frameworks

• Theories are ways of organizing and explaining the world in which we live

• Informal “tacit” theories vs. formal theories

• Educational theories change over time and (cultural) space.

The Explanatory Function of Theory

• What theories would you use to explain the following questions?• Why are some students more successful in

school than others?• Why is teaching frequently not respected

as a profession?• Why is the public dissatisfied with school in

general, but satisfied with their own children’s education?

Theories of Schooling

• Functionalism• Functionalism is a theory of social

transmission• Functionalists draw on Evolution in the

natural sciences• Living organisms (societies) fulfill basic

functions to survive• They develop specialized structures to carry out

those functions• The overall health of the organism (society)

depends upon the health of each structure

Theories of Schooling

• Functionalism• Social structures (institutions)

• Family• Government• Religion• Economic system• Education

• Functions or purposes• Reproduction (recruit or produce new members)• Distribute goods and services• Allocate power• Transmit rules, customs, appropriate behaviors

Theories of Schooling

• Functionalism• Social Transmission is probably the most

important function of social institutions.• Family• Religion• Schools

• Functionalists claim that if one socializing institution is not fulfilling its function, another will take over that role to retain equilibriumequilibrium

Functionalism & Purposes of Schooling

• Intellectual Purposes• Acquisition of cognitive skills• Acquisition of knowledge• Acquisition of inquiry skills

• Political Purposes• Educate future citizens • Promote patriotism• Promote assimilation of immigrants• Insure order, public civility and conformity

to laws

Functionalism & Purposes of Schooling

• Economic Purposes• Prepare students for later work roles• Select and train the labor force needed by society

• Social Purposes• Promote a sense of social and moral responsibility • Serve as a site for the solution or resolution of

social problems• Supplement the efforts of other institutions of

socialization such as the family and the church

Conflict Theory

• A response to Functionalism• Too static• Doesn’t account for struggles/clashes

among various social groups• Accepts inequalities

(social/economic/political) as “normal”

Conflict Theory

• Like Functionalism, conflict theories are theories of social transmission

• Reproduction Theory• Rather than promoting democracy, social

mobility and equality, schools reproduce the ideology of the dominant groups in society

Types of Reproduction

• Economic reproduction (Neo-Marxist)• Institutional “superstructures”

reproduce the underlying means of production.• Schools are structured like factories and

are organized like bureaucracies• Through tracking and testing, students are

sorted into class/gender/ based work roles

How Does Reproduction Happen?

• Structurally• Differentiation is the organizing principle of

schools• Space• Time• Roles• Tasks• Rewards

How Does Reproduction Happen?

• Control of knowledge• Explicit Curriculum- some knowledge is

“legitimate” some is not.• “Hidden” Curriculum- “appropriate” values,

beliefs and behaviors.

Life in Schools

Theories of Transmission & Transformation

Transmission Theory (Functionalism)

Transmission Theory(Reproduction)

TransformationTheory (Critical Pedagogy)

Each social system, through its structures and institutions, must carry out certain functions to survive

Economics and culture determine the organization of the rest of society

Meaning is constructed through social interaction. Power tends to define social institutions

Equilibrium is normal; disorder/conflict is pathological

Conflict and change are normal/contribute to a system’s health

Actions are dictated by role expectations & personal qualities

Macro Level Macro Level Both Macro & Micro

Goal is to understand roles and reach consensus

Goal is to unmask sources of oppression

Goal is emancipation & empowerment

How would each theory explain our questions?

• Why are some students more successful in school than others?

• Why is teaching frequently not respected as a profession?

• Why is the public dissatisfied with school in general, but satisfied with their own children’s education?