The Sociology Of Education

Sociology is very hard to give one definition to, as it is a century old and contains methodical approaches and theoretical approaches. One way to look at sociology is to look at people and how they are affected by society and how society affects them. Also, how they are associated by institutions, groups and societies. Sociology is a relatively new academic discipline. Emerged in the 19th Century as people were starting to challenge modernity. The world was advancing, and people were becoming aware of different societies. Sociologists realised that they needed to find out how different groups held themselves together and possible solutions to social solidarity. Sociology was coined by a man called Auguste Comte and is little more than historical interest. (Piero, 2016) He wanted to show that sociology was important and that it could improve a society and direct human activity, and this was developed to remedy the social malaise of the French revolution calling for new social doctrine based on sciences.(Ritzer,2003) .Other classical theorists of this time were Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim. Their historical context has had continued importance and their ideas have been used throughout history. “People were using science instead of religion to understand the world” (Giddens, 2006). Emile Durkheim had more of a lasting impact than Comte although Durkheim used a

Sociology is the study which seeks to understand society, social life and to understand ourselves, humans, as part of that social world [Giddens, A, 2006, p.2]. The term ‘sociology’ was developed by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, in 1838. Comte believed that scientific facts are able to explain the social world. Sociologists, such as Comte, study issues including: education, inequality and religion. Comte believed that sociologists play crucial roles in guiding society. In the 18th century the ‘Enlightenment’, which was a philosophical movement that stressed human reasoning over bling faith and obedience. At the time it was different to the religious and political order, as it encouraged a ‘scientific’ was of thinking. Political

Emile Durkheim is considered to be the Father of Sociology. In contrast to Karl Marx’s theory of Sociology, Durkheim believed that society is made up of a bunch of social facts and can be studied empirically. Durkheim did put a lot of emphasis on the idea of social facts. This made him stand apart from all other theorists and their ideas. (Ritzer 2004) This is what Durkheim said of social facts.

Emile Durkheim stresses the importance of the socializing agent in the education system in industrialized societies. He believed that education set the foundation which fostered a child’s cognitive and moral characteristics which was the basis upon which society was founded. Durkheim believed that these characteristics were essential in order to ensure that new member of society would be able to meet the required standards of society. Education had certain advantages over the individual which Durkheim refers to as a methodical socialization. This term refers to the younger generation or new members of society being instructed in certain values so that a certain co relation and degree of homogeneity would be developed by all members of society. Durkheim stated “It is by respecting the school rules that the child learns to respect rules in general, that he develops the habit of self-control and restrain himself. It is a first initiation into the austerity of duty.” (Durkheim 1961) Thus all members of society would be integrated

Education can be said as a social activity that allows people to stay there and grow. In a complex society, the function of education is undergoing specialized and institutionalized with formal education

Social, cultural and political changes have immense influences on the education sector. This has been witnessed from the onset African and Asian immigration into the United States from 1954 till present times. During the last quarter of the 20th century, immigrants to the US were denied education and those who received education did so under great threats. The dominant view of society about immigrants during this period was extremely negative and rejecting; thereby not deserving of an education. Currently, the education has been made affordable to everybody due to changing atmosphere of unprecedented social change. In education, this change resulted in the legal dismantling of segregated education for African American children (Collins, 2008). As African American children integrated the schools in the United States, they came to school with the stigma of slavery and the negative attitudes held by the agents of the educational institution. Attitudes and held perceptions were the catalyst for constructions such as biased assessment and the retardation paradigm. From these constructions emerged practices in special education that held large numbers of African American students captive in not only the educational milieu, but also limited their work potential. For this reason, the sociopolitical landscape as a context for curriculum, instruction, and assessment has continued to play a significant role in the education

The theoretical works of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber still influence sociological theory. Though their works are decades old they still are a major part of what sociology is today. Though their theories can seem very different, there are some similarities. To become a great sociologist one most learn and understands how to use all sociological perspectives. To do this one must understand and use the different theoretical perspectives created by Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.

Today sociological theories have taken place in what defines humans, such as relationships, social behaviors, and studying how humans affect societies. For some theories have fallen out of the trouble others have remained openly to accept by learning more about these theories to understand how to gain knowledge from these theories. One of the theories known is the Structural, Functional Approach theory define to the framework for building up a theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability to approach the social structure to stable human behavior. To support human life’s in basic needs within families, the workforce, classrooms and even in the community. Everyday approaches that people meet in the form of social functions is the pattern of operation of society as a whole examples use as a simple handshake to keep society interacting within each

Beyond the shadow of doubt, all aspects of sociology would not be the same today if it wasn't for the work of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Their contributions to sociology are so generous and powerful that they are known as the ‘classical sociologists’ (Carter, 2007). Durkheim's opinion on sociology is that it is completely separate and not like philosophy and psychology, it is instead the academic work of social facts, with the end desire of continuing social order. (Ritzer, 2011). For Weber, sociology is ‘concerned to understand how people make sense of their own experience and how social interaction between individuals builds into larger social structures” (Carter, 2007, p.56).

Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another. In sociology we have various schools of thoughts or theories and each of these have their own view on the impact of sociology on “life chances”

As stated in Item A sociologists see the education system as performing a vital role in modern societies. Item A also highlights that the education system can equip individuals with the specialised knowledge and skills they will need when they join the workforce. Therefore, the education system helps select and allocate individuals into their future work roles. Although many sociologists agree this is the main role of education, they argue whether this is a positive thing or a negative thing. Whereas Functionalists believe this role of education benefits society and

Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions and the study of social problems. Sociology investigates the social causes and consequences of such things as prejudice and discrimination. Auguste Comte first used the term “sociology” in 1838 to refer to the scientific study of society. He argued that society needs scientific knowledge based on facts and evidence to solve its problems. Spencer suggested that society will correct its own defects through the natural process of “survival of the fittest.” Marx claimed that social conflict, especially class conflict, and competition mark all societies. Durkheim stressed the importance of studying social facts or patterns of behavior characteristic of a particular group. He advocated the use of systematic observation to study sociological events, but he also recommended that sociologists avoid considering people's attitudes when explaining society. Weber argued that sociologists must also take into account people's interpretations of events; not just the events themselves. He believed that sociologists must inquire about people's thoughts, feelings, and perceptions regarding their own behaviors. These Sociologists were the main players during the 19th and 20th century, and their prior work led to the development of Sociology in America. Sociologists throughout the decades have sought to develop a scientific approach to the study and resolve such issues as prejudice and discrimination. Early

The structural-functional theory also known as functionalism is sociological theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Functionalists view education as a contribution to the smooth inner working of society. Education is a lifelong process, we are constantly learning new things and deepening our knowledge of things we already know. The education system works to prepare individuals to become fully functioning members of society. It works to teach people certain skills that will help them to be successful in life. However, education not only teaches people the skills they will need to be successful in life, but it also teaches them how to be decent citizens and to work well with others. Many people view education are a service to the overall function of society.

Auguste Comte (1798-1857), a French philosopher of science is described as the “Father of Sociology” (Benokraitis, 2017,2016). According to Benokraitis (2017,2016), Mr. Comte coined the term, “Sociology.” The word sociology is defined as the systematic study of human behavior in society (Benokraitis, 2017,2016). Comte focused his interest on society and people’s interaction within their community, family, religion, language and social evolution (Bourdeau, 2015).

He assumed that, this new approach would allow us to understand each other better thus, create a better future. Through, he was not the only theorists of sociology and in the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century, such scientists as Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max weber and others contributed into development of newly aroused scholarship. The forerunners of sociology initially were educated in other academic disciplines such as, philosophy, economics and history. It is clear now that their previous education was reflected in the subjects and matters that they have explored, including philosophy, theology, religion, economics, psychology, education, ethics and inequality.