EDUCATION Unit 4

INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION Education begins as an informal process where an infant watches others and imitates them As a child grows, the educational process becomes more formal: play dates and pre-school Grade school: academic lessons become the focus of education It is much more than simply learning facts!

INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION The education system socializes us to our society We learn cultural expectations and norms which are reinforced by our teachers, textbooks and classmates This can be an issue with students that are not part of the dominant culture Learning multiplication tables as well as taking turns and saying “please” and “thank you”

INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION Schools can be agents of change Teaching students to think outside of the family norms Can broaden horizons and help break the cycles of poverty and racism Schools can also be criticized Not producing the test results and numbers Letting students slip through the cracks Sociologists understand education to be both a social problem and social solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqTTojTija8

EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD Education – a social institution through which a society’s children are taught basic academic knowledge, learning skills and social norms Every nation in the world is has some form, although they vary widely Wealth of a nation has a lot to do with how much money is spent on education

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n0kCqEvcmY

TABLE TALK Do you agree with Finland's way of teaching? Why / why not? Discuss wit your partner

EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD There are many differences in international educational systems besides financial: The value placed on education The amount of time devoted to it Examples: 220 school days in South Korea compared to 180 in the US

EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD Social Factors Another study attributed 20% of the performance differences and the United States’ low ranking due to differences in social background Money and quality teachers are not distributed equally in the US

FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION Formal Education – learning of academic facts and concepts through formal curriculum US educational system is considered a right and responsibility for all citizens Focuses on formal education, with curricula and testing designed to ensure that students learn the facts and concepts that society believes are basic knowledge

FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION Informal Education – learning about cultural values, norms and expected behaviors by participating in society Occurs both in the formal education system and at home Starts with parents, relatives, and others in the community Learning to dress for different occasions, performing regular life routines like shopping for and preparing foods, personal hygiene

FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION Cultural transmission – the way that people come to learn the values, beliefs and social norms of their culture Students learn cultural aspects of modern history in a US History classroom and at the same time learn the cultural norm for asking a classmate out on a date through passing notes and whispered conversations

ACCESS TO EDUCATION A big concern that is universal is the idea that education is universal access to education; that everyone has an equal ability to participate in an educational system Can be difficult based on class or gender, race and disability

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION Functionalists – believe that education equips people to perform different functional roles in society They view education as one of the more important social institutions in society Conflict theorists – view education as a means of widening the gap in social inequality They believe it reinforces the differences that occur in class, gender, race and ethnicity They view education as serving a more negative role

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION Feminist theorists – point to evidence that sexism in education continues to prevent women from achieving a full measure of social equality Educational systems are characterized by unequal treatment and opportunity for women Symbolic interactionists – study the dynamics of the classroom, the interactions between students and teachers, and how those affect everyday life Sees education as a labeling theory; where there’s a direct correlation to those who are in power and those who are labeled

ISSUES IN EDUCATION Home Schooling Students being educated in their homes, usually by a parent Provides great opportunity for student-centered learning while not having to deal with the negatives in school environments; parents know their children best Opponents say that students miss out on social development that takes place; education is a complex task and requires a degree

TABLE TALK Discuss with a partner the different schools that you have attended in that last 3-5 years? (if any) What are some similarities and differences that you have noticed about those schools? What school did you like best & why? Would you like to be home schooled? Why / why not?