Sociological Theories of Education

MAED 202 -
FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION
SOCIO-ANTHROPOLOGICAL
F O U N D AT I O N O F E D U C AT I O N
TOPIC: Sociological Theories of
Education
(Functionalism, Conflict, and Symbolic
Interaction)
D i s c u s s a n t : J E L L V I C O R P. O P E N A
My Presentation _ X
Title Team Contents Chart Closing
Sociological
Theories of Education
cs
Functionalism, Conflict,
and Symbolic Interaction
Start
Filipino 9 _ X
FUNCTIONALIST THEORY
cs
CONFLICT THEORY
Filipino 9 _ X
answer to social issues
cs
n y
it o vert
uca po
r ed s to
o te
po ibu
ntr
co
Filipino 9 _ X
Durkheim – the founder of functionalist theory
“Moral Education”
cs
Herbert Spencer - functionalism was inspired by biology and the human
body
Education serves several functions for society. These include (a)

socialization
(b) social integration
(c) social placement
(d) social and cultural innovation.
Filipino 9 _ X
a. Socialization
If children are to learn the norms, values, and skills they
need to function in society, then education is a primary
vehicle for such learning.
cs
b. Social integration
For a society to work, functionalists say, people must
subscribe to a common set of beliefs and values
“Americanizing” immigrants
Filipino 9 _ X
c. Social Placement
Beginning in grade school, students are identified by teachers and other
school officials either as bright and motivated or as less bright and even
educationally challenged
cs
d. Cultural Innovation
Functionalists point to the ironic dual role of education in both
preserving and changing culture.
More educated individuals are generally more liberal, while less

educated people tend toward conservatism.
Filipino 9 _ X
cs
Filipino 9 _ X
CONFLICT THEORY
Conflict theorists (Karl Marx) examine the same functions of education
as functionalists. Functionalists see education as a beneficial
cs
contribution to an ordered society; however, conflict theorists see the
educational system as perpetuating the status quo by dulling the lower
classes into being obedient workers.
“hidden curriculum.”
Filipino 9 _ X
CONFLICT THEORY
First, property taxes fund most schools; therefore, schools in
affluent districts have
cs
more money.
Conflict theorists contend that not only do the economics favor

the white affluent, but so does school testing—particularly IQ
testing, which schools can use to sort students.
Filipino 9 _ X
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST THEORY

Macionis claims that symbolic interactionism provides a foundation for
developing a theory that sees society
cs as the result of people's regular
interactions with one another.
Symbolic interactionist studies of education focus on social interaction

in the classroom, on the playground, and in other settings associated
with schools
Filipino 9 _ X

Symbolic interactionists limit their analysis of education to what they directly observe
happening in the classroom. They focus on how teacher expectations influence student
cs
performance, perceptions, and attitudes.
.
Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson (1968) conducted a classic study of this
phenomenon.They tested a group of students at the beginning of the school year and told
their teachers which students were bright and which were not. They then tested the students
again at the end of the school year. Not surprisingly, the bright students had learned more
during the year than the less bright ones.
Filipino 9 _ X

Ray Rist conducted research similar to the Rosenthal‐Jacobson study in 1970. In a kindergarten classroom where
both students and teacher were African American, the teacher assigned students to tables based on ability; the
“better” students sat at a table closer to her, the “average” students sat at the next table, and the “weakest” students
sat at the farthest table. Rist discovered that the teacher assigned the students to a table based on the teacher's
cs
perception of the students' skill levels on the eighth day of class, without any form of testing to verify the
placement. Rist also found that the students the teacher perceived as “better” learners came from higher social
classes, while the “weak” students were from lower social classes.
Monitoring the students through the year, Rist found that the students closer to the teacher received the most
attention and performed better. The farther from the teacher a student sat, the weaker that student performed. Rist
continued the study through the next several years and found that the labels assigned to the students on the eighth
day of kindergarten followed them throughout their schooling.
Filipino 9 _ X

self‐fulfilling prophesy
cs
For example, the stock market may be stable with rising values. If
investors become afraid that the market will crash, however, they may
suddenly sell their stocks, which causes the market to crash. The crash
occurred simply because investors feared it would do so.
Filipino 9 _ X
Summary of key points

 • From a functional standpoint, education aids in a child's socialization and serves
to prepare them for adulthood and eventual integration into a broader society.
 • The conflict viewpoint places a strong emphasis on how education perpetuates
inequality in larger society. cs
 • The social interaction that takes place in classrooms, playgrounds, and other
settings associated with schools is the main focus of the symbolic interactionist
perspective. Social interaction aids in the socialization of gender roles, and
teachers' expectations may have an impact on their students' performance.
Filipino 9 _ X
Points to ponder
 How education is understood and explained from the functionalist,
conflict, and symbolic interactionist
cs perspectives?
 Which one of these three strategies do you prefer the most? Why?
Filipino 9 _ X
Thank
Thank you!
cs
you!
Close

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MAED 202 -

answer to social issues

Education serves several functions for society. These include (a)

More educated individuals are generally more liberal, while less

Conflict theorists contend that not only do the economics favor

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST THEORY

Symbolic interactionist studies of education focus on social interaction

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST THEORY

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST THEORY

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST THEORY

Summary of key points

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