Chapter 14

EDUCATION

1. EDUCATIONEDUCATION

2. After studying this chapter, you should After studying this chapter, you should
be able to do the following:be able to do the following:
Describe the manifest and latent functions of education Describe the manifest and latent functions of education
according to the Functionalist view.according to the Functionalist view.
Explain the nature of education from the conflict theory Explain the nature of education from the conflict theory
view.view.
Explain the causes and effects of racial segregation in Explain the causes and effects of racial segregation in
the public schools.the public schools.
Discuss the extent to which high-school dropouts are a Discuss the extent to which high-school dropouts are a
social problem.social problem.

3. EDUCATIONEDUCATION
Lester Frank Ward believed:Lester Frank Ward believed:
The source of inequality in society was the
unequal distribution of knowledge.
The main purpose of education was to
equalize society by diffusing knowledge to all.

4. EDUCATION
Functionalists Functionalists

Stress the importance of education in Stress the importance of education in
socializing the young, transmitting the culture, socializing the young, transmitting the culture,
and developing skills.and developing skills.
Conflict theoristsConflict theorists

Note that education preserves social class Note that education preserves social class
distinctions, maintains social control, and distinctions, maintains social control, and
promotes inequality. promotes inequality.

5. FUNCTIONALIST VIEWFUNCTIONALIST VIEW
What social needs does our education What social needs does our education
system meet? system meet?
What are its tasks and goals? What are its tasks and goals?

6. FUNCTIONALIST VIEWFUNCTIONALIST VIEW
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS - SOCIAL FUNCTIONS - Social processes Social processes
that contribute to the ongoing operation or that contribute to the ongoing operation or
maintenance of society.maintenance of society.
MANIFEST FUNCTIONS - MANIFEST FUNCTIONS - The intended or The intended or
recognized consequences of those processes.recognized consequences of those processes.
LATENT FUNCTIONS - LATENT FUNCTIONS - Unintended or not Unintended or not
normally recognized consequences.normally recognized consequences.

7. FUNCTIONALIST VIEWFUNCTIONALIST VIEW
 MANIFEST LATENTMANIFEST LATENT
SocializationSocialization Cultural Cultural
Transmission Transmission
Academic Skills Innovation
Child Care Postponing Job
Hunting

8. MANIFEST FUNCTIONSMANIFEST FUNCTIONS
SOCIALIZATIONSOCIALIZATION
There is a need for the formal educational There is a need for the formal educational
system to extend the socialization process that system to extend the socialization process that
starts in the family starts in the family
CULTURAL TRANSMISSIONCULTURAL TRANSMISSION
Major portions of society’s knowledge are Major portions of society’s knowledge are
passed from one generation to the next. passed from one generation to the next.

9. MANIFEST FUNCTIONSMANIFEST FUNCTIONS
ACADEMIC SKILLSACADEMIC SKILLS
 - Skills needed to hold a job. - Skills needed to hold a job.
 - Ability to analyze information- Ability to analyze information
 - Ability to understand financial transactions- Ability to understand financial transactions
 - Knowledge to participate in political life- Knowledge to participate in political life

10. MANIFEST FUNCTIONSMANIFEST FUNCTIONS
INNOVATIONINNOVATION
Need to transmit society’s knowledge, and part Need to transmit society’s knowledge, and part
of that knowledge consists of the means by of that knowledge consists of the means by
which new knowledge is to be sought.which new knowledge is to be sought.
Learning how to think independently and Learning how to think independently and
creatively is a very valuable toolcreatively is a very valuable tool

11. LATENT FUNCTIONSLATENT FUNCTIONS
CHILD CARECHILD CARE
One latent function of many public schools is One latent function of many public schools is
to provide child care outside the nuclear to provide child care outside the nuclear
family.family.
 - The actual school day.- The actual school day.
 - Feeding programs – over half of U.S. - Feeding programs – over half of U.S.
school children are now provided free meals.school children are now provided free meals.
 - After school programs, both academic, - After school programs, both academic,
sports and pure child care provisionssports and pure child care provisions
 - Health and dental screenings- Health and dental screenings

12. LATENT FUNCTIONSLATENT FUNCTIONS
Postponing Job HuntingPostponing Job Hunting
- Requirements to stay in high school until age - Requirements to stay in high school until age
18 keeps those under 18 out of full time work18 keeps those under 18 out of full time work
 - More and more young American adults are - More and more young American adults are
choosing to go to college or technical skills, choosing to go to college or technical skills,
keeping them out of the work force longer keeping them out of the work force longer

13. LATENT FUNCTIONSLATENT FUNCTIONS
AFFIRMING SOCIAL BOUNDARIESAFFIRMING SOCIAL BOUNDARIES
 - Residential patterns tend to group people of - Residential patterns tend to group people of
similar socio-economic status in the same EL-HI similar socio-economic status in the same EL-HI
systems.systems.
 - Many top private colleges accept a large - Many top private colleges accept a large
portion of their students from upper and upper portion of their students from upper and upper
middle class backgroundsmiddle class backgrounds
 - - In bothIn both settings this leads to children from settings this leads to children from
like backgrounds being grouped together in their like backgrounds being grouped together in their
social relationshipssocial relationships

14. U.S. GRADUATION RATESU.S. GRADUATION RATES
High SchoolHigh School
Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor’s Degree
1940194019501950196019601970197019801980199019902000200020072007
24.534.341.152.366.575.280.484.5
1940194019501950196019601970197019801980199019902000200020072007
4.66.27.710.716.220.324.427.5

15. CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEW
BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
Certain groups in society come to dominate Certain groups in society come to dominate
othersothers
The educational system is a means for The educational system is a means for
maintaining the status quomaintaining the status quo
EDUCATIONEDUCATION
1. Socializes students into ruling class values1. Socializes students into ruling class values
2. Helps to maintain order and stifle creativity2. Helps to maintain order and stifle creativity
3. Produces the types of people the system 3. Produces the types of people the system
needsneeds
. .

16. CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEW
Social ControlSocial Control
Conflict theorists conclude that the most Conflict theorists conclude that the most
important lessons learned in school are not important lessons learned in school are not
those listed in the formal curriculum but, rather, those listed in the formal curriculum but, rather,
involve a involve a hidden curriculumhidden curriculum. .
 DEF: DEF: The social The social attitudes and values attitudes and values taught in taught in
school that prepare children to accept the school that prepare children to accept the
requirements of adult life and to fit into the requirements of adult life and to fit into the
social, political, and economic statuses the social, political, and economic statuses the
society providessociety provides for them.for them.

17. CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEW
HIDDEN CURRICULUMHIDDEN CURRICULUM
Schools develop personal control and social Schools develop personal control and social
skills in childrenskills in children

To succeed in school the child must master the To succeed in school the child must master the
academic AND the hidden curriculumacademic AND the hidden curriculum
The hidden curriculum emphasizes being docile, The hidden curriculum emphasizes being docile,
respecting peers and other non-academic normsrespecting peers and other non-academic norms

18. CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEW
TRACKING – Screening and AllocationTRACKING – Screening and Allocation
DEF: DEF: The separation of students into streams The separation of students into streams
that lead to differential education based on that lead to differential education based on
ability. In principle, American schools do not ability. In principle, American schools do not
practice this. But consider:practice this. But consider:
1. Within most schools there are college 1. Within most schools there are college
tracks, normal tracks and vocational trackstracks, normal tracks and vocational tracks
2. There are public, private and elite schools2. There are public, private and elite schools
3. There are private colleges that admit based 3. There are private colleges that admit based
on family background.on family background.

19. CONFLICT THEORY VIEWCONFLICT THEORY VIEW
The Credentialized SocietyThe Credentialized Society
A degree or certificate has become necessary to A degree or certificate has become necessary to
perform a vast variety of jobs. This limits the perform a vast variety of jobs. This limits the
ability of others to do this type of work.ability of others to do this type of work.
 The credential does not necessarily mean The credential does not necessarily mean
that the recipient can perform the job better.that the recipient can perform the job better.
 If the necessary credential is a college If the necessary credential is a college
degree, even if it is unrelated to the job, then the degree, even if it is unrelated to the job, then the
credential acts as a gate keeper to the better credential acts as a gate keeper to the better
jobs and may keep out malcontents, etc. jobs and may keep out malcontents, etc.

20. Median Income by Education LevelMedian Income by Education Level
Male FemaleMale Female
High School DropoutHigh School Dropout$27,180$27,180 $20,341$20,341
High School $37,632 $27,477
Some College or
Associate’s Degree
$46,562 $34,745
Bachelor’s Degree $65,011 $47,333
Advanced Degree $88,840 $61,228

21. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
Unequal AccessUnequal Access
Due to residential patterns there is de facto Due to residential patterns there is de facto
segregation in the schoolssegregation in the schools
There is also low college participation among There is also low college participation among
some groups due to cost, inadequate some groups due to cost, inadequate
preparation and the fact that college seems like preparation and the fact that college seems like
a foreign culture because it reflects the upper a foreign culture because it reflects the upper
classesclasses
 Separate but equal has not worked for Separate but equal has not worked for
minoritiesminorities

22. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
E.S L. English as a Second LanguageE.S L. English as a Second Language
 There is debate whether to teach in multiple There is debate whether to teach in multiple
languages until children become proficient or languages until children become proficient or
whether to teach in English only and force whether to teach in English only and force
assimilation.assimilation.

6.3 million children aged 5 to 17, or 14%, speak a 6.3 million children aged 5 to 17, or 14%, speak a
language other than English at home. language other than English at home.

Another 3.2 million elementary and secondary school Another 3.2 million elementary and secondary school
students are classified as having limited English students are classified as having limited English
proficiencyproficiency..

23. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
High-School DropoutsHigh-School Dropouts
Highest drop out rate is among hispanicsHighest drop out rate is among hispanics
10% of males, and 8% of females drop out10% of males, and 8% of females drop out
Dropping out affects not only those who leave Dropping out affects not only those who leave
school, but also society in general for many school, but also society in general for many
reasons:reasons:

They pay less in taxesThey pay less in taxes

They have increased demand for social services They have increased demand for social services
including welfare, medical assistance, and including welfare, medical assistance, and
unemployment compensation.unemployment compensation.

Dropouts have poorer health.Dropouts have poorer health.

Half of all state prison inmates did not complete high Half of all state prison inmates did not complete high
school, while they are only17% of the populationschool, while they are only17% of the population

24. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
HOME SCHOOLINGHOME SCHOOLING
There are three main reasons why parents There are three main reasons why parents
choose to home school :choose to home school :

Concerned about the school environment Concerned about the school environment

Provide religious or moral instructionProvide religious or moral instruction

They are dissatisfied with the academic They are dissatisfied with the academic
instruction available at the available schools instruction available at the available schools

25. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
STANDARDIZED TESTINGSTANDARDIZED TESTING
Much criticism has been leveled at standardized Much criticism has been leveled at standardized
tests. tests.
The testing services say the tests merely try to The testing services say the tests merely try to
chart, scientifically and objectively, different chart, scientifically and objectively, different
levels of mental achievement and aptitude. levels of mental achievement and aptitude.
The critics assert that the tests are invalid The critics assert that the tests are invalid
academically and biased against minorities.academically and biased against minorities.

26. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
GENDER BIAS - 2 TYPESGENDER BIAS - 2 TYPES
 At the academic level there continues to be At the academic level there continues to be
more favorable treatment of males by teachers, more favorable treatment of males by teachers,
and less attention being payed to females and less attention being payed to females
 However, the socialization process of schools However, the socialization process of schools
tends to more harshly affect males who are tends to more harshly affect males who are
more prone to act out.more prone to act out.


27. AMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUESAMERICAN EDUCATION ISSUES
THE GIFTEDTHE GIFTED
Many feel that the gifted are being shortchanged Many feel that the gifted are being shortchanged
in public schoolsin public schools
It has been proposed that gifted children have It has been proposed that gifted children have
three atypical traits:three atypical traits:

Precociousness-–gifted children begin early to Precociousness-–gifted children begin early to
master some domainmaster some domain

Nonconformity, an insistence on doing things Nonconformity, an insistence on doing things
according to their own specific rulesaccording to their own specific rules

A rage to master, or a desire to know A rage to master, or a desire to know
everything there is to know about a subject.everything there is to know about a subject.