Religion and Education
Michael Itagaki
Sociology 101, Introduction to Sociology
Religion
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“Only the heart can hold the intangible…”
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Help us answer questions science can’t
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existence of God
the purpose of life
morality
Irreplaceable
Religion
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Durkheim’s three elements of religion
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Beliefs
Practices
Moral community
Religion: Functionalist view
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Functions of religion
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Answer “meaning of life” questions
Provide emotional comfort
Unite community that shares values
Provide guidelines for life.
Religion: Functionalist view
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Functions of religion
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Control behavior
Help people adapt to new environments
Provide support for the government
Spearhead social change
Religion-Functionalist view
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Dysfunctions
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War
Persecution
Religion:
Symbolic Interactionist View
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Symbols
Rituals
Beliefs
Religion:
Symbolic Interactionist View
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Symbols
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Shared meaning, solidarity
Religion:
Symbolic Interactionist View
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Rituals
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Repetitive practices
Moral community: closeness to God,
foster unity within group
Religion:
Symbolic Interactionist View
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Beliefs
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Values; Cosmology
Religion:
Symbolic Interactionist View
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Symbols
Rituals
Beliefs
Religion: Conflict View
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Critical of religion
Marx
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Repressed workers retreat to religion
“Opium of the people”
Legitimation of social inequality
Religion: In the United States
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Weber: Protestant Work Ethic
Stratification
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Diversity
10 am-11 am on Sundays:
Most segregated hour in the United States
Education and
Industrialization
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Credential societies
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Diplomas, degrees = sorting devices
Education related to economy
Education and Functionalism
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Teaching knowledge and skills
Manifest function
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Transmit knowledge
Latent functions
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Maintain social control
Cultural transmission of values
Social integration
Education and Functionalism
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Latent functions
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Maintain social control
Cultural transmission of values
Social integration
Gatekeeping
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Meritocracy: Who can work where?
Tracking: Vocational vs. Ivy League?
Education and
Conflict Theory
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System perpetuates
social inequality
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Funneling effects
Income
Education
Family over
achievement
Figure 13.2 - The Funneling Effects of Education: Race and Ethnicity. Page 349
Education and
Conflict Theory
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System perpetuates social inequality
Hidden curriculum
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Obedience to authority
Conformity to norms
Education and
Conflict Theory
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Hidden curriculum:
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Ex. language and “manners”
Social class lines: middle vs. working
Education and
Conflict Theory
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Hidden curriculum:
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“Breaking through Barriers”
p. 353-54; 508-09
Education and
Conflict Theory
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Cultural bias
IQ or SAT test scores
 A symphony is to a composer as a
book is to a(n) ___________.
a) paper
b) sculptor c) musician
d) author
e) man
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Education and
Conflict Theory
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Tracking revisited
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Reinforcement of inequality?
Social class
Elite = More $$, more time to study
 School: derived from Greek word for
leisure
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Education and
Symbolic Interactionism
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Teachers’ expectations impact students
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Rist Research
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Divide class into groups: fast, avg, slow
• Social class basis for splits
High achievers: High expectations; Low
expectations: low achievement
 Labels followed children through school
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• Self-fulfilling prophecy
Agency and Interactionism
SOCIETY
INDIVIDUAL