Education - Introduction to Sociology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Introduction to Sociology

Download Education - Introduction to Sociology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! Education Consider ‘macro’ or structuralist approaches Today: - Background - Functionalist Theories - Critical views re Hidden Curriculum Tomorrow: - Bernstein, Bourdieu 2 docsity.com Structuralist Approaches Last term – more on individuals/groups Now – more structural - institutions, power relations, inequalities etc E.g. – consider – on education: - functions/roles of schools, Unis - power relations – who shapes educational institutions? Who gains from them? 3 docsity.com Functionalists - Durkheim Education promotes social solidarity, social system ED - French, early 20thC Education: - promotes group commitment - learn rules, procedures - teaches special skills for complex, industrial society 6 docsity.com Functionalists - Parsons 1950s, US sociologist Education socialises children Schools are: - Universalistic - Pro achievement - Meritocratic And enable ‘role allocation’ Different rewards seen as fair Education promotes democracy, modernisation 7 docsity.com Criticisms Schools don’t transmit shared norms, solidarity? Power issues: Who gains? Dominant classes? Schools not meritocratic or pro- achievement? Need more critical focus on inequalities 8 docsity.com Bowles & Gintis Schools legitimise inequality Pupil results: Class/family more influential than IQ Criticisms? - Employers don’t control schooling? - Formal curriculum? - Children not passive (Willis)? Potent critique of inequalities 11 docsity.com Gender Girls long excluded from higher education Post-war – greater participation But ‘hidden curriculum’ - gender- role expectations – e.g. boys in science Recent studies: girls ‘out-perform’ boys But – differences remain - glass ceiling e.g. Unis and female pay! 12 docsity.com Summary Consider structural aspects of education - Functionalists: benefits social system - Illich: many negative effects, notably passivity - Bowles/Gintis: sustains exploitative system - Gender: school and gender inequalities 13 docsity.com Bernstein 16 Class differences linked to language Two ‘speech patterns’/Codes: Elaborated - Restricted Middle-class - Working-class Codes linked to classes and educational success docsity.com Bernstein Elaborated codes – universalistic • Meanings explicit • Longer, complex sentences • Context free Restricted codes – particularistic • Meanings implicit • Fewer words, simpler sentences • Context bound – situational, know other speakers 17 docsity.com Bernstein Middle classes: elaborated codes need in work e.g. sales person-centred relationships in family Working classes: restricted codes positional relationships in family 18 docsity.com Bourdieu Dominant classes claim more cultural capital Lower classes have less experience, ‘out of place’ Children of dominant classes enter school with CC, where CC is appreciated 21 docsity.com Bourdieu Dominant classes set educational standards Schools emphasise symbolic (e.g. talking) not practical (making) – favours dominant As move up educationally - pupils from dominated classes eased out Dominant classes – their children claim ‘better ability’ 22 docsity.com Bourdieu Inequalities seem fair – education is ‘open’, ‘free’ Lower-class children – failure is ‘their fault’ Some succeed, promoting ‘fairness’ illusion Recent times: Mass education: Lower-class dilemma: i) Gain devalued certificates OR ii) Stay outside and ‘fail’ 23 docsity.com