Sociological foundation of curriculum

Sociological bases of curriculum development

1. Unit – II Sociological Foundation of Curriculum Dr.M.Deivam Assistant Professor Department of Education The Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University) Gandhigram, Dindigul , Tamil Nadu – 624 302 Curriculum and School

2. Sociology Latin “ Socius ” - “social or being with others” - and the Greek “logos ” - “study” Therefore, the term “Sociology” basically means the “study of social beings”.  It studies: • human behavior in groups • social structure and social phenomena • different forms of human interrelations

3. Education and Society Schools exist within, not apart from, social context Schools emerges within society

4. AIMS OF EDUCATION Development of social feelings and qualities Development of a socially efficient individual Improvement of vocational efficiency Use of leisure time and development of healthy recreational activities Transmission of social heritage Diffusion of more and more knowledge Development of constructive and creative outlook of the individual Education for social service, social efficiency, emotional integration, national unity and patriotism

5. Curriculum Based on conditions, problems and needs of society An agent for transmission of basic values of culture Prepare the child for global/world society Flexible and changeable for the effective realization of socially determined objectives Lead to the development of genuine ‘we feeling’ i.e. of a group having a spirit of social interaction

6. Methods of Teaching Enable child to acquire skills and knowledge needed Develop a capacity for social adjustment Develop problem solving and constructive thinking P roject, group, teaming teaching and cooperativ e method

7. The cultural bases of the curriculum as identified by Saylor and Alexander (1996) Teachers themselves are participants in the society and usually have been thoroughly educated in the culture of the group for whom they plan a school programme . The school will inculcate the values, ideals, beliefs, traditions , and more of the social group. The school educates its pupils to live in a particular society at a particular time in its group life.

8. Cont., The culture shapes its pupils development and personality , and determines their educational needs. Curriculum planning and teaching should take account of the social as well as the innate aspects of pupil motivation. The relative importance of the knowledge, understandings and concepts to be learned by the young is culturally determined

9. Robert Zais (1976) identified the following current social issues which are not in any order of priority Discrimination, racism, minority rights and integration Poverty Pollution and the environment Urbanization and metropolitanism War and peace Women’s rights The world population problem The World food crisis Crime and violence Growth of Technology Youth culture Individual right etc.

10. School serves the following function to the society It not only imparts education but also promotes the culture. School provides the home environment to the children and improves their knowledge. School provides importance to the expression of pupils social impulses, and trains them through practical experiences for the various social roles. School caters to the changing needs of the society.

11. Cont., School creates the habit of respecting elders and of kindness towards youngsters. School provides the knowledge to the child; it develops the skills and attitudes. School inculcates values like theoretical, economic, aesthetic, social, political, religious and moral . School provides the adjustability, co-operation, discipline etc for the improvement in the behaviour of the children.

12. Cont., School provides the group attitude among the children. School embodies the social consciousness to get the experiences of the society.

13. Society, Education and School Human life – It has two aspects – the biological and sociological . While the biological aspect of human life is maintained and transmitted by nutrition and reproduction, the sociological aspect of human life is maintained and transmitted by education. A society comprises a number of institutions or agencies deliberately founded by man for his convenience and comfort. Some of the deliberately invented institutions of man are family, politics, religion, economy, education, agriculture, mass-media etc.,

14. Cont., The word education derived from the Latin word, educare which means “to bring up”. Education does not merely means the acquisition of knowledge or experience but it means the development of habits, attitudes and skills, which help a man to lead full and worthwhile life. Education is manmade with specific purpose. The major objectives of education are increased productivity, inculcation of new values, fostering national solidarity, increasing social efficiency and developing humanness.

15. Cont., Man is sum total of animal values and education. Taking away education from man, he will not be a man, so it becomes necessary to introduce the child to the customs, traditions, and the way the people live. The way people live is culture. As this informal education introduces the child to the culture of his society, this education is called “Acculturation”. As this education socializes the child, it is called “Socialization”.

16. Cont., Social values like co-operation, adjustment, community living, and moral activities are developed through education. Education modifies the behaviour of the child and makes him a member of the society. Home or family is the first informal agency of education and the mother is the first teacher to the child. This education is known as Introduction to life.

17. Cont., Education is its narrow sense is a training that the child receives in the formal schooling. Thus Training refers to as formal education. Thomas Briggs says that school are the miniature of the society . Hence, the education is for the society, of the society and by the society. Any changes in the society brings about change in education and in turn, education influence the society.

18. Cont., Plato said, “Education is training the individual to discriminate between good and evil both on the level of physical and mental response ”. The body and the brain are so trained that they do the right things in the right time. John Dewey said, “School is special environment , where a certain quality of life and certain type of activities and occupations are provided with the object of securing the child’s development along desirable line.”

19. Social change and Curriculum Education is closely related to social change, because inventions and discoveries take place due to education . Consequently, change comes in society also. The changed society again gives direction to education according to new form. All the programmes of the school including curriculum must change in accordance with the social change. Curriculum must be dynamic and flexible so that it becomes meaningful and relevant to the needs of the society.

20. Cont., Curriculum has to be modified and related to social needs of the society. It is very necessary to encourage inventions, discoveries, researches, tests etc. for bringing progress in society through education.