School of Education, University of the West Indies

Transcription

1 School of Education, University of the West Indies Educational Foundations and Issues in Education (EDFA 5500) Sociology Session 1 August 8, 2017 Cheryl M. Bowrin

2 Sociology

3 OBJECTIVES OF LECTURE 1 At the end of the session students will: Describe the nature and concepts of Sociology as a contributor to the Foundations of Education Identify key concepts that explain personal observations/experiences in educational contexts Evaluate the usefulness of theories of Sociology used to explain social behaviour

4 Sociology

5 Analysis of statement/image? What do we mean by society? What are some significant elements of society? Are all the persons/participants in the society the same? What creates differences?

6 Possible responses Groups Political preferences Family type SES Races/ethnic groups Persons with special needs Religious affiliation Different sexual orientations Gender Rural/Urban differences

7 SOCIOLOGY

8 Definition of sociology Systematic study of human social relations Study of human social life, groups and societies Study of people in group situations

9 Becoming a teacher: How is Sociology relevant? Challenges our familiar understanding of the world. Involves the ability to think imaginatively and to detach one s self from pre conceived ideas about social life. Reveals to us the vast range of human diversity.

10 Becoming a teacher: How is Sociology relevant? Do we have groups in schools? Are the groups/differences in the society represented in the schools and classrooms? What are some issues that might be relevant for us (teachers) to understand so that we can do a better job as we interact with our students?

11 The sociological imagination C. Wright Mills says that it works to distinguish between the personal troubles of milieu and the public issues of social structure. Sociologists are urged to connect biography (personal life history) with social change and structure (history, economic and political organization)

12 Sociology and Education Pays attention to the study of groups of people in educational institutions and the understandings they acquire as they participate in the process of schooling.

13 Think of the cases for the course! Any of the issues related to groups and understanding of society would have been relevant?

14 Sociological Concepts of Relevance? Sociological concepts - socialization - culture - norms - values - roles - social structure - social class

15 Sociological Perspectives A perspective is a way of understanding society/social life. Each perspective has an underlying philosophy. A philosophy gives us a view of realitywhat is considered to be valued and real. A particular view of reality and of viewing the social world, gives rise to a particular paradigm or research orientation.

16 Major Sociological Perspectives in Education Functionalism- Durkheim, Parsons Marxism- Karl Marx, Basil Bernstein Symbolic Interactionism - Mead, Cooley (Interpretive/Interactionist theories) Critical theory

17 Functionalism Order and stability, maintaining the status quo, passing on to the next generation the rules, customs and appropriate behaviour for operating in society. Socialization to ensure norms and values are learned as mechanisms of social control and conformity

18 Marxism/Conflict Society consist of groups with unequal access to power and rewards. Conflict of interest between groups Strong impose social order on the weak. Powerful groups use education to control others.

19 Social Action/ Interpretive/Interactionist Social life can best be understood through the relationship of small groups (micro level) The agency of an individual is more important in explaining social action than structures Individuals construct their own meaning; there is no objective reality but a subject understanding of social life

20 Social Action/ Interpretive/Interactionist Individuals create human society, they have motives and beliefs and choose how to act. Individuals give meaning to their own behaviour and the behaviour of others. Meaning may change over time.

21 Concept of Self (Mead) Two elements of the individual the me and the I. I expectations and attitudes of others, behaviours that an individual assumes (generalized other) Me person s individuality Generalized other is the way that the community attempts to control the behaviour of individuals

22 References Bennett de Marrais, K., & Le Compte, M. (1999). The way schools work. N.Y.: Longman. (Chapter 1) Mulkey, L. (1993). Sociology of education. Front Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers. (Chapter 3) Robinson, P. (1981). Perspectives on the Sociology of Education. London: RKP. (Chapter5) Any introductory text on sociology e.g. Andersen & Taylor, Haralambos, O Donnell, Cuff & Payne, & Giddens.