Sociology Of Education Essay Sample

Structural functionalism refers to a framework for building theory that views the society as a complex structure with parts that work together to endorse stability and solidarity. In structural functionalism model people produce necessary services and goods in various institutions and play roles that correlate with the acceptable norms of the society (Prichard and Buxton, 1988).Social functionalism sees educational institutions serve an important role in the society. Some of these roles include socialization, instruction and provision of custodial care. Many problems in the society such as unemployment, delinquency, crime, and poverty are linked to the failure of educational institutions to fulfill its basic functions.
According to structural functionalism the educational institution impact the student's knowledge and skills that they need for their future occupational roles and their self-development. It serves an important social role. Most parents rely on schools to teach children how to spell, read, count and use computers. When schools fail to impact these skills, then social problems occur. Socialization at school teaches the children to respect authority (Torres, 1998). They learn by learning to obey school rules and follow the school routine. They are also taught to respect teachers and other students. These skills become very important later in life as it helps then respect authority at work and fit within work schedules hence be socially fit. Socialization of the youth into the dominant culture and hence maintain norms, traditions, values and culture of a society. They are also warned of socially unacceptable behavior such as drug use, violence and dishonesty (Bulle, 2009).Multicultural education is important in teaching the children to embrace social diversity, and this is important in promoting peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic groups in the society.
Social conflict theory holds that the society is made up of varying social groups that have different aspirations, have different access to opportunities and get different social rewards. Relations in the society are viewed to be based on exploitation, domination, subordination and oppression (Torres, 1998).Conflict theorists lay emphasis that educational institutions solidify class position of social groups and hence allow elite to control masses. The stated role of education in the society is to provide to all a mechanism for the achievement in life(Prichard and Buxton, 1988).The reality is educational opportunities, and the quality of education are not equally available to all. Conflict theorists see the socialization function of education be the indoctrination of the masses into capitalism. Students are socialized to value the state’s interest and always to strive to sustain it.Teachers socialize children to value status quo by providing daily routines and giving rewards to those that conform and hence in essence training future bureaucrats that will always obey authority. Education is seen to sort people into statuses. Children that attend an elite school come from privileged backgrounds, and this social class is perpetuated through the social exposure and connections that they gain by attending the elite schools(Bulle,2009 ).Those from more disadvantaged backgrounds rarely get chances to access quality education and hence they end up being tied to cycle of poverty.
The view that seems more persuasive in my opinion is the structural functionalism theory as through it education is seen to be the means of transforming the society. By teaching the learners skills and socially acceptable behaviors, education serves a social function of shaping the society. By providing different skills to the students, education trains them to accomplish a mission in the society. By a student going through education the student, their immediate family, and larger society stand to benefit. Social conflict theorist’s view that education seems to perpetuate social segregation is more of a negative outlook towards education. To some extend some social class reproduction occurs through education but largely education provides the only moral way of children born into disadvantaged social, economic status to break out of the poverty cycle and improve their living standards and that of their family.

References

Bulle, N. (2009). Sociology and Education: Issues in sociology of education. Bern: P. Lang.
Torres, C. A. (1998). Sociology of Education: Emerging perspectives. Albany: State Univ. of New York Press.
Prichard, K. W., & Buxton, T. H. (1988). Concepts and theories in sociology of education. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.