Sociology of Education

Sociology of Education

Sociology of Education

Introduction

Theories in sociology explain how the institutions of the society work collectively to attain the required outcome. Education is the most mandatory institution of the society. This institution, along with the studies, teaches morality, spirituality and socialization to the individuals of the society. A notable sociologist, Herbert Spencer believes that educations helps society to evolve itself. (Saha, p.301). There have been many theories about education and how or how not the society is shaped by education. Schools have been the obvious choice for making a hegemonic change (Greaves, Hill, Masuria p.49).

Functionalism and Marxism are some of the most important theories in this regard. Marxism says that education is hegemonic and that the ideas prevailing in any education system are that of a capitalist class. This type of education produces such an outcome that is required by the dominant class. However, Durkheim proposes the notion that though education instils the cultural norms and values in a person but it is not especially designed to produce particular results. These theories explain that how educational institutions play a helpful role in shaping the society and how the societies are influenced by this institute.

Discussion

Marxism believes that education plays an important role in developing a society. According to Marx education that is being imparted to different classes is categorized accordingly. A research states that 'inequality is a long term and inevitable consequence of the capitalist system' (Greaves, Hill, Maisuria p.39). This means that the quality of education will be affected due to one's association with particular class. The education imparted to rich will be different from that of working class. In other words, education according to Marx is the way of maintaining the status quo. It is just another way of ensuring that the class system prevails (Saha, p.300). This theory explains the inter-connectedness in 'exploitation, capitalist inequalities and educational inequality' (Greaves, Hill, Maisuria p.39). Max Weber, the sociologist, have stated many reasons for class system, social status but maintains that education is also one of the important ways of determining how and where an individual can be placed in the society (Saha, p.301).

He further says that it is our education that decides our social position in a society (Saha, P.302). His notion of class explains describes a group of people who have possessed the high position economically, culturally and politically (Greaves, Hill, Maisuria p.39). This eventually means that if one has not studied in a prestigious college then upward mobility in a society will be difficult for him. Education is the main institution that helps the society to establish and solidify itself. Now if we consider the Marxist theory, we can see that this theory has explicitly linked the education and society with each other. Marx has said that it is the education that decides what type of individual does a society needs. Rickowski states that education in reality produces the products for the capitalists' society. And he further says that though the learning process is ...