Problems in Education
The Global and Historical Context
• Many societies have no formal mechanism of schooling
• Throughout the world, 1 in 5 adults cannot read or write. 2/3 of them are
women
• Has the United States always had formal schooling?
• Thomas Jefferson, an advocate and pioneer of the American educational
system, believed that education is important to promoting active citizenship
and a democratic self-government. What did he mean?
Characteristics of Education
in the U.S.
• 1. Education as a Conserving Force
• Schools indoctrinate students in the culturally prescribed ways.
• 2. Mass Education
• Many students attend school for the wrong reason.
• Positive and negative results
Characteristics of Education
in the U.S.
• 3. Preoccupation with Order and Control
• 4. A Fragmented Education System
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Private
Homeschooling
Charter
Vouchers
Characteristics of Education
in the U.S.
• 4. Local Control of Education
• Financing of schools through local taxes
• Intrusion of religious views of the majority
•5. Sifting and Sorting Function of Schools
• RSA Animation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
Sociological Theories of Education
• Functionalist
• Education serves important functions:
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Instruction
Socialization
Sorting individuals into various statuses
Custodial care
Emile Durkheim- Moral Education-Values and norms
Become a productive member of society
-Is the education system always functional?
Sociological Theories of Education
• Symbolic Interactionism: Concerned with the individual and smallgroup issues in education:
• Teacher-student interactions
• Student self-esteem
• Self-fulfilling prophecy - Occurs when people act in a manner consistent with the
expectations of others.
Conflict Theory
• Is education the “great equalizer”? Why or why not?
• Popular construction of education and Success?
• Universal accessibility of primary and secondary education will compensate for
disadvantages of birth into lower classes of society, giving all people/children an
equal chance at success and the American Dream.
Sociological Theories of Education
• Conflict
• Educational institution solidifies class positions and allows
the elite to control the masses.
• I.e.: The wealthy pass advantages on to their children along with
wealth which gives advantages to rich kids and disadvantages to
poor kids.
• Quality education and educational opportunities are not
equally distributed.
Understanding Educational Problems
• Critical Constructionism-A structural approach
• Schools perpetuate inequality on basis of social class, race, and even gender
• Educational System is stacked in favor of middle- and upper-class children and
against children from the lowest classes
• Funding, biased testing, quality teaching, access to resources (technology, tutors,
facilities, safe environments, after school sports and programs, etc)
• In essence, the education system is not the “great equalizer”.
• I.e.: Secretary of Education Anne Duncan in 2010
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• What are some of the primary problems with the American
educational system?
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Problems in EducationI. Educational Inequality
• Social Class and family Background
• SES is one of the best predictors of educational success and likelihood of
attending college
• Educational performance clearly linked to SES
• Family Economic Resources
• Average SAT scores are linked to family income and race.
• Affluence and educational advantages
• Race and ethnicity
• Hispanics and blacks have lower educational achievement at almost every
level-Connected to SES, ELL status, biased testing, and overt discrimination
***Race/ethnicity and SES highly correlated
Problems in EducationII. Poor Performance
• U.S. International Rankings
Understanding Educational Problems
• Financing Public Education
• Inadequately funded schools
• Financing of public education is upside down
Understanding Educational Problems
• Segregation
• Tracking and Teacher’s Expectations
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Stigma
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Future payoff
Student subculture