1. EDUCATION
Unit 4

2. 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!

3. 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”

4. 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

6. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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?