Sociology Education and Media Flashcards
What do conflict theorists investigate in regard to the school system?
They examine how the education system reproduces the social class structure.
Believe that schools perpetuate the social divisions of society and help members of the elite to
maintain their dominance
The fragmentation of subjects into smaller groups like geography and math rather than a holistic approach encourages students to specialise in one area like the work force. Because of this specialisation in the workforce, it limits people’ ability to combine knowledge and challenge their exploitative conditions.
What is the Hidden Curriculum?
Does this perpetuate inequality?
What does the hidden curriculum result in when students enter the workforce?
The unwritten goals of schools, such
as teaching obedience to authority and conformity to cultural norms in addition to the formal curriculum.
It emphasises the importance of conformity to mainstream norms
The hidden curriculum helps to
perpetuate inequalities! Different hidden curriculums in private and public schools.
An example of this is that in middle class suburbian schools the students are taught ‘proper’ english and ‘good manners’ because the teachers know that will be expected of them in the workplace that they are headed to. However in working class woroking suburbs, the students allow ‘ethnic and street language’ in the classroom.
This inadvertently taught hidden curriculum teaches students to obey authority and as a result when they enter the workforce they know to listen to the boss.
When analysing from the conflict/marxist viewpoint in regard to education systems, what are the four things that are important to consider?
-hidden curriculum
-private and public education
-tiliting the tests
-the correspondence principle
Public VS Private schools
What do Connell et al. (1982) claim about private schools?
Claim that the non-government
schools (religious and independent) represents an
institution where the middle and upper classes are
consumers of education and of ‘social opportunity’
Therefore, as a result of families of private schools becomes consumers, they expect the school staff
and policies to be responsive to their views as they can ‘shop around’ for the best school.
However, public schools employed by the department of education rather than private parents
Therefore, bureaucracy (organizations that have a hierarchical structure, division of labor, written rules and regulations, and formalized decision-making )controls the school environment and the parents that send their children there.
Therefore, the parents and children do not have a lot of authority over what their children learn. Public schools have an upper hand over the parents.
Other key differences between public and private schools.
-different quality of education because of money, facilities, rules and regulations
-different teachers, private having to have religious/ faithful teachers, being funded by catholic education meaning schools having to conform to faith, can result in racial and ethnic issues
-the social perception that kids that go to private schools will be able to get into uni or be more respected by employers
-gender stereotypes embedded into private school uniform
-highlights how social issues stem from the flawed school system
-different role of parents in public and private
-socioeconomic status of parents, relates to parental education and their success/education which highlights generational educational privilege.
(An educated parent could pay more school fees).
Kindergarten as a boot camp
What are the points of sociologists about kindergarten being like a bootcamp for learning the hidden curriculum.
-the perspective that kindergarten is initially a group of diverse children who are molded into the ideal student that will have compliance.
-learning to listen to classroom instructions on demand
-show and tell, telling them to express t0hemselves but also to talk when asked to
-students having to request to talk
-teaches students to acknowledge and think that the teachers ideas are superior
-the hidden curriculum; whilst doing all acitivies was implemented through ‘scolding’ children who were talkative/ loud and praising that were conforming
-when their behaviour is either supported or unsupported, children learn that the teacher and the entire school system is the authoritative figure.
-this sociologist labelled this as the purpose of kindergarten which is to ensure that children have unquestioning obedience and to create/reinforce a social structure of good behaviour
-school prepares students for the routines of the workforce and turn them into docile (submissive)workers that will be able to take the direction of the company
Tilting the tests
Discrimination by IQ
What is the relevance of cultural biases when schools create test questions?
What is so bad about IQ tests? How do they relate to social inequality?
Intelligence tests play a part in keeping the social class
system intact.
Example:
“A symphony is to a composer as a book is to a(n):
* Paper; Sculptor; Musician; Author; Man
* Answer: Author”
Not all intelligent people will know the answer to questions that could have a very strong cultural bias.
* Children from some families will know more about symphonies,
composers and sculptors than others
* Consequently, this test is tilted in their favour
Therefore, IQ tests measure not only intelligence but also acquired knowledge
* The cultural bias that is built into the standard IQ tests is clearly not
tilted in the favour of the lower-classes
* One consequence is that the children of the poor, who score lower on these tests, are assigned to less demanding courses to match their
supposedly inferior intelligence
* This destines them for lower-paying jobs in adult life
* As Conflict Theorists view them, IQ tests are another weapon in an
arsenal designed to maintain the social class structure across
generations
Bowles & Gintis
Contributions of Bowles & Gintis to the understanding of the link between school and society
What principle did they propose (define it)?
What do they think the point of the Australian education system is?
Give examples of education mirroring society.
The Correspondence Principle
The sociological principle that schools correspond to (or reflect) the social structure of their society
Bowles & Gintis (1976, 2002) used the term to refer to how schools reflect their society
The schooling system performs a vital function for capitalism
What is taught in a nation’s schools corresponds to the characteristics of that society.
Examples of the characteristics of society corresponding to what is taught in schools.
Capitalism= encourage competition
Social Inequality= unequal funding of schools
Social Class Bias= Funnelling children of low income families into job trainings that don’t require a lot of intellect
Bureaucratic structure of companies= provide a model of authority in the classroom
Need for submissive workers =make students submissive (as in through kindergarten boot camp)
Need for dependable workers=Enforce punctuality in attendance and homework
Need to maintain the nations armed forces=promote patriotism (to fight for capitalism)
Conflict theorists conclude that the
correspondence principle demonstrates that the Australian education system is designed
to turn students into dependable workers who will not question their bosses.
It is also intended to produce some who are innovators in thought and action but who can still be counted on to be loyal to the social system as it exists
The Bottom Line: Family Background
Functionalism and Education
What are the fundamental ideas of functionalism?
the idea that when parts of
society are working properly, each contributes to the wellbeing or stability of that society
Manifest functions: Intended functions include cultural transmission of values, teaching knowledge and skills, replacing family functions
Latent functions: Unintended functions, those with higher education live longer lives because of better paying jobs and medical expenses, school serving as free childcare for children
Functions of educational system
What are some of the functionalist functions of education?
Teaching knowledge and skills, cultural transmission of values, social integration, gatekeeping, replacing family functions, other functions including match making (high school and universities funnels people of similar background into relationships), social networking, school keeps students out of the job market, keeps children off the streets (prevents crime), provide employment for teachers etc, also industries that service schools like textbook.
Functionalism functions of education
Teaching knowledge and skills
What is a credential society and how is this used to employ ppl?
-manifest function
-the 3 Rs or computer literacy
-Each generation must train the next generation’s significant positions
-Randall Collins (1979) observed that industrialised nations have become credential societies
-Credential society: the use of diplomas and degrees to determine who is eligible for jobs, even though the diploma or degree may be irrelevant to the actual work
-Because employers don’t know potential workers, they use schools to weed out the incapable from the capable. This comes as it is assumed a university graduate is responsible;
attended classes, submitted assessment and can read and
write. (However, is the assumption still accurate?)
In some cases, job skills must be mastered before an individual is allowed to do certain work
On-the-job training was once adequate for physicians,
engineers and pilots – this is no longer sufficient
This is why doctors frame their degrees so prominently,
they declare they have ben certified by an institution of
Ellaborate on cultural transmission of values.
(Functionalism)
Manifest Function
society’s schools pass on society’s
core values from one generation to the next (capitalism or communism)
Australia is capitalist, but schools also stress care and compassion for self and others; ask students to ‘do their
best’ and offer a ‘fair go’; and respectful attitudes, understanding, tolerance and inclusion of others and their culture
Durkheim refers to society as being the cement that glues an individual to its society
If taught about the social and cultural history of their society, they will feel more connected to the whole, rather
than just their classroom/family/city
School links all individuals into a united whole and increases solidarity
Teaches social rules children will need when they are
adults to contribute to the functioning of their society
Regardless of if the society is capitalist/communist loyalty to state and patriotism is taught. Transmitted through flying the flag of their country or being taught that no country is better than their own.
Teachers praise the society’s founders, their struggle for
freedom from oppression, and the goodness of the country’s basic institutions.
For example in Japan it is a law that school cultivate respect for culture and tradition
Social Integration as a function of education (functionalism)
Schools promote a sense of national identity that brings us together. Through making us similar in looks, speech and thinking.
As a result, this stabilizes political systems. If people are positive about institutions and align with their values they have no need to rebel (especially important for prevention of lower class rebellion).
People with disabilities have been left out of this social integration so school introduced inclusive education programs. Schools try to integrate them into mainstream school activities but they still require special assistance/ classes however as a result of this they are still ill prepared for the dominant world as they are only able to adapt to a specialised environment
Schools are required to provide access such as ramps,
interpreters, etc. to socially integrate these citizens
What do symbolic Interactionists say about school?
They study face to face interaction in the classroom. They have
found that the expectations of teachers have profound consequences for their students
The Rist Research- Symbolic Interasctionist.
What did Rist 1970 do and research?
What did they find the impact of the 3 tables are?
What is the impact of labels on a child’s future?
Why do some people get filtered into university prep courses and others in vocational ones?
Conducted participant observation in an African American kindergarten
They found that after only 8 days in the classroom, the teacher felt she knew the students’ abilities well
enough to stream them into 3 levels.
The Three Levels are:
Table 1 – ‘fast learners’
Sat at front, closest to teacher
Table 3 – ‘slow learners’
Sat at back, furthest from teacher
Table 2 – ‘the rest/average learners’
Between the other tables
Rist questioned this – they had not yet been tested for ability and yet the teacher was certain she could identify bright and slow children.
Rist found that social class was the underlying basis for assigning the children to different tables
(not purposeful – but apparent)
Middle class students made up table 1 and children from poorer homes were assigned to table 2 & 3
What do you think the effects of this decision will be on the students?
The teacher paid the most attention to the children at table 1, who were closest to her
Less to table 2, and the least to table 3
-As the year went on, students at table 1 perceived that they were treated better and came to see themselves as smarter
-They became the leaders in class activities and even ridiculed students at other tables
- Eventually, the children at table 3 disengaged themselves
from many classroom activities
-At the end of the year, only the students at table one had
completed the lessons that prepared them for reading
This had impacts on the next year of school. By looking at previous work, the next teacher also streamed them into the 3 groups. Thus, previous table one continues to be the next years table 1. These students also became leaders in this class.
Therefore, this study and other studies that have confirmed its findings have stated that the journey of a student can be decided by day 8 of school.
This demonstrates the power of labels as they can set people on a course of action that affect the rest of their lives.
