Chapter 16 - Education Flashcards
Credentialism
The emphasis on certificates or degrees to show that a person has a certain skill, has attained a certain level of education, or has met certain job qualifications.
Cultural Capital
Cultural knowledge that serves (metaphorically) as currency to help one navigate a culture
Cultural Transmission
The way people come to learn the values, beliefs, and social norms of their culture.
Education
A social institution through which a society’s children are taught basic academic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural norms.
Formal Education
The learning of academic facts and concepts
Grade Inflation
The idea that the achievement level associated with an A today is notable lower than the achievement level associated with A-level work a few decades ago.
Head Start Program
A federal program that provides academically focused preschool to students of low socioeconomic status.
Hidden Curriculum
The type of nonacademic knowledge that people learn through informal learning and cultural transmission.
Informal Education
Education that involves learning about cultural values, norms, and expected behaviors through participation in a society.
No Child Left Behind Act
An act that requires states to test students in prescribed grades, with the results of those tests determining eligibility to received federal funding.
Social Placement
The use of education to improve one’s social standing.
Sorting
Classifying students based on academic merit or potential.
Tracking
A formalized sorting system that places students on “tracks” (advanced, low achievers) that perpetuate inequality.
Universal Access
The equal ability of all people to participate in an education system.
Noam Chomsky
Had a conflict theory. Believes school is an indoctrination system meant to create a strong sense of obedience and conformity to the larger group. Increases the gap between classes and stifles creative thinking.
- Do not ask questions
- Do not deviate from the curriculum
- Do not speak up.
