Chapter 4 Sociology of Education

1. Interactional Theories: Critiques and extensions of functional conflict perspectives. Attempt to make common place strange by turning on their heads on the behaviors and interactions between the students and students, and between students and teachers.

1.1. Five Effects on Schooling of Individuals

1.1.1. 1. Employment: Places requiring higher levels of education. Education unrelated to job performance. College education equals more money.

1.1.2. 2. Teacher Behavior: Teachers have a huge impact in student learning and behavior. Teacher expectations directly influence student achievement.

1.1.3. 3. Inadequate schools: Urban education had failed to educate minority and poor children. Students who attended suburban and private schools had better education.

1.1.4. 4. Gender Discrimination: Girls have lower self esteem and lower aspirations. Studies show boys get more teacher attention.

1.1.5. 5. Knowledge deficits and Attitudes: Higher social class background of students, higher level of achievement. Differences in schools directly related to differences in student outcomes.

2. Functionalism- View society as a machine. Emilie Durkheim was the first to embrace a functional point of view. Invented the sociology of education. Believed that all education in all societies was of critical importance is creating the moral unity necessary for social cohesion. They tend to assume that the consensus is a normal state in society and that conflict represents a breakdown of shared values. Functional reform should create structures, programs and curriculum tat are technically advanced, rational and encourage social unity.

3. Conflict theories: Ability to dominate groups to impose their will on subordinate groups through force, cooptation and manipulation. They do not see the relation between school and society as problematic or straight forward. Schools are similar to social battlefields, where students struggle against teachers, teachers against administrator, etc.

3.1. Karl Marx: Intellectual founder of conflict in schools

3.2. Max Weber: Was convinced that power relations between dominate and subordinate groups structured societies.

3.3. Waller: Portrayed schools as autocracies in a state of perilous equilibrium. Believed that without vigilance, schools would erupt into anarchy because students are forced to go against their will. Sees schools as oppressive and demeaning.

3.4. Collins: educational expansion is best explained by status groups struggle. College diplomas are status symbols rather than achievement.