What Is Educational Sociology? Essay Example
What Is Educational Sociology? Essay Example

What Is Educational Sociology? Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 4 (947 words)
  • Published: October 31, 2021
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Educational Sociology

Educational Sociology is a broad concept that can be looked at from different perspectives. It includes the application of a wide range of sociological principles and methods in efforts to solve the numerous problems in the education sector. From as sociological perspective, one can understand the different goals of education in addition to determining the strengths and weaknesses of various education options or programs available especially in the US.
Education Sociology is one of the vibrant subfields of sociology featuring theory and research on how education which is one of the social institutions is affected by policy and other social institutions and how in turn it affects such social entities in the society (Burton, MaryAnn T 14). The subfield also highlights how different social forces influence educational policies, practices and the overall school

...

ing experience (Good, Thomas L 11). From this perspective therefore, there are various goals of education to the different members of the society.

The first goal of education from a sociology point perspective relates to education as an agent od socialization in the society. Through education we interact with other members of the community enabling us to understand the society cultural expectations and norms which are mostly reinforced by teachers, the books we read and classmates (Tischler, Henry L and Patrick J Ashton 320). From the moment a child is born the education process starts since the child learns by seeing and imitating older people. Education, therefore, enables sharing of ideas, making new friends and coming together to solve the societal problems (Good, Thomas L 23).

The second goal of education from a sociological point of view stems from the fact that education act a

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

an agent of change in the society. The school system emphasizes the need for individual to think outside the family and the local norms around them, which in some instances they are born while expressing the importance of people knowing their rightful place and roles in the society (Tischler, Henry L and Patrick J Ashton 325). In this view, the goal of education is to impart people with communication skills, social interaction and work discipline and ethics, which go a long way in creating paths for independence and obedience.

The school choice option is an important decision which parent need to make carefully since every child is different with varying abilities. The best school choice is one that aims to grow the children socially by protecting both their hearts and minds. There are several strengths and weaknesses of the available education program hence the decision on the most suitable program should be made putting emphasis on the sociological perspective of the option. Some of the strengths to be considered include the affordability of public schools which often offer a broad range of classes (Burton, MaryAnn T 96). The public schools also promote social interaction of students from diverse backgrounds, promoting diversity and peaceful coexistence.

An education choice of a private Christian school tends to be suitable for parents since it offers curriculum supporting parents’ beliefs and values. Choosing such an option is beneficial since the child will be brought up in a socially and morally upright manner (Good, Thomas L 134). Homeschool option offers parents the opportunity to be directly involved in their children education process. Through the home school system, parents can teach their desired values

and mold their children in ways they want them to become. Another education option in the United States is the charter schools. These schools provide emphasis on an appropriate curriculum which might be suitable for students with specific academic and vocational preferences.

Education options in the United States also have their weaknesses which should also be put into consideration when making such decisions. For instance, the public schools do not offer the parents a chance to choose how their children are taught a number of social issues such as sex, families' biblical principles as well as religious beliefs (Tischler, Henry L and Patrick J Ashton 332). The public schools, therefore, teach their curriculum as provided by the state department of education ignoring the parents as a vital part of the child education.

The private school option may offer a narrow perspective on education focusing majorly on Christian values and principles and ignoring other critical aspects of education such as extracurricular activities which also enable a child to develop mentally physically and socially (Tischler, Henry L and Patrick J Ashton 336). The Christian school option may also be considered expensive and unaffordable for low-income families. For the homeschooling option, the major weakness stem from the fact that most parents feel unqualified of simply are not emotionally suitable to teach their children (Burton, MaryAnn T 120). According to Good, Thomas L (92), the parents also believe that their children need more of peer interaction and experiences in their educational process. The cheater schools option, on the other hand, are not readily available in each community and sometimes put curricular emphasis on issues that may not be suitable for different

student education needs (Burton, MaryAnn T 196). They may give more weight to career development, for example, and end up ignoring the social development of the child concerning moral values and principles.

In conclusion, education sociology is important sub-section since it spells out the various objectives of the schooling to the society. It also highlights the benefits and costs of the different school options available. Parents should consider all the available options in making appropriate decisions on the one best suitable for the child.

References

  • Burton, MaryAnn T. Special Education In The 21St Century. New York, Nova Science Publishers, 2010.
  • Good, Thomas L. 21St Century Education. Thousand Oaks, CA, SAGE Publications, 2008.
  • Tischler, Henry L and Patrick J Ashton. Introduction To Sociology. Fort Worth, Harcourt Press, 1996.
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New