Sociology of Education Flashcards
The process of gaining knowledge and skills
Education
Emphasizes the smooth working of the machine and, by extension, the maintenance of the social order
Functionalist view
The process by which people come to share the values, morals, beliefs, and ways of acting that are expected in their society
Socialization
Identifying those who seem best suited to be, say, doctors or teachers, and those who are not
Sorting
The obvious, intended ones; these are what we openly create an institution to do
Manifest functions
Unintended or unrecognized outcomes of institutions
Latent functions
Begins with the idea that society is a struggle over power and that those who have power will work very hard, and in complex ways, to hold onto it.
Conflict perspective
We tend to see schools as ultimately fair places where the smartest and hardest-working earn the greatest rewards. This disguises how unfair things really are
Achievement ideology
It’s much more likely that children born to middle class families will remain middle class than that they will become rich or poor. And children who start out poor tend to stay that way
Social reproduction
Refers to the ways people can use their social connections to gain knowledge, access, and other benefits
Social capital
The knowledge and skills we possess that are 1) in short supply (not everyone has them) and 2) valued by schools and other institutions
Cultural capital
Built into the practices of schools, political systems, and other institutions
Institutionalized
The existence of large and enduring gaps in achievement between different groups
Achievement gap
Focuses not on what students do or don’t achieve but on the access they have to resources (such as healthy food, reliable health care, good schools, qualified teachers, and high expectations) that lead to academic achievement
Opportunity gap
Lacking consistent access to nutritious food
Food insecure
