EDF 110; SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION.

Introduction.

[Link] as a discipline of knowledge.

August Comte is the founder of the discipline of Sociology. He coined the word sociology from a Latin word
socio-society and Greek word logy meaning science. So sociology means science of the society. It is an
interaction between institutions e.g. family, religion, education and the manner in which they affect each other
and the society

MAX WEBER; defines sociology as a science which attempts the interpretive understanding of social action in
order to arrive at its root cause and affects. It involves systematic methods of investigations and evolution of
theories in the light of evidence and logical agreement.

ROSS H.L; Defines sociology as a scientific study of human behavior in groups.

EDWARD HAFFINS; Says it is a science of human activities interacting with one another.

EMILE DURKHEIM – it is a science of social institutions. Sociology is human behavior in groups.

It is the study of human societies

It came into being as an attempt to understand different changes that occurred in human societies in the first
decades.

NOTE; sociology does not specifically study just a society but concentrates on the social groups which are
found in the society, their behavior and relationship in relation to other social institutions

DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

It is the youngest discipline of social sciences. It was recognized as a discipline in 19 th Century.

It developed as a response in Western Europe brought about by the type of revolutions e.g. the French
revolution and industrial revolution. In France ‘between’ 1779-1812 peasant revolted because aristocrats denied
them political material and social rights as citizens. The aristocrats controlled the government and resources
including Land. Peasants were only allowed to use land by the ruling class in return for the service rendered, e.g.
military and domestic service. This revolution led to the murder of the French king and disorganization of
society and introduction of democratic practices. There was concern on how to maintain social order and if
possible find alternative ways of preventing disorderliness occurring again in the society.

The industrial revolution started in Britain and later went to the coast of Europe the period was characterized by
technological advance which led to refusal of labour work force and this resulted to unemployment and increase
in crimes. Industrialization caused urbanization resulting into overcrowding of citizens in the cities and towns
and separation of families. It was thought that natural science method could be adapted to study extend of social
problems and establish solutions.

Their views encouraged the growth of sociological approach to understanding society and subsequent
development of sociology just as a distinct discipline of knowledge. Sociology was to enquire into the
environment as well as the nature of man. Look at how the environment influences the experiences shared by
human beings and its contribution to the development of the group life.

In vision of the wider extent of subject matter, sociology draws a great deal from other disciplines in order to
make clear and predict social problems, i.e, in economics, sociology uses many principals and facts such as
production and distribution of wealth to explain some of its social problems. In history sociology uses such
events which shade light upon the continuous process of group life.

a. BRANCHES OF SOCIOLOGY

1. HISTORICAL SOCIOLOGY.

-This is a special branch of sociology which tries to understand contemporary society through studying its
past i.e. historical sociology may systematically study the first events and activities of a society in order to
discover the genesis and the development of a particular way of life being practiced in a certain society.

2. FAMILY SOCIOLOGY.

-This studies the family as the basic social institution in the society.

It examines the family in terms of evolution as an institution, the structure and the role played by each
member especially the parents in nurturing certain characters in their families.

3. LAW SOCIOLOGY.

-This is the study of home rules and regulations of a given society and the influence on the behavior of the
people [members.]

4. HUMAN SOCIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY

-It studies the distribution of human groups and how they behave during their interaction with other groups.
It looks at the various factors influencing their distribution. Looks at how it affects even their social and
economical activities.

5. URBAN SOCIOLOGY

This studies the difference between attitude and values of people in urban and country settings. It examines
things like socialization methods, dressing, employment and their way of life.

We have other social sciences like; Anthropology Economics, Political science, Psychology and they are called
social sciences in the sense that they are all concerned in one way or another with human behavior.

We have the natural science; chemistry, biology, physics, botany and zoology and the Arts ; music, literature,
drama, painting. Whereby each group has developed its own specialized character, sociology uses knowledge
derived from these areas of specialization to accomplish its own task.

NOTE; one studies matter another studies human behavior.

Sociology obtains the information through systematic observations. It is the systematic and thorough way of
gathering information by the sociologists that makes sociology a science. The information systematically
collected through observation and intelligent reasoning can be then summarized in a logical manner as part of a
theory about an aspect of society. In doing so sociologists employ certain approaches;

b. MEHTOD OF STUDY

Sociology uses scientific method, that’s actual observation in accumulating its facts. It does not rely on
speculation so it refers to this process as SCIENTIFIC RESERCH.

SCIENTIFIC RESERCH is a systematic and a deliberate process which applies scientific procedures in its
study examining or investigating everything in detail. Research provides answers (solutions) to question &
problems in life. It discovers and develops new knowledge about a phenomenon.
 It verifies or update on existing issues in the society.

EDUCATION RESERCH; This is the application of a formal systematic and deliberate process of
scientific procedures in the study of education so as to provide:-

1. Answers and solution to issues and question in education.

2. To discover and develop new knowledge in education.
3. To verify and ascertain also correct and update existing facts and clarify old and new knowledge about
education.
Therefore Sociology uses the above methods in its study to get reality of various phenomena in education.
METHODS USED

1. Descriptive method (functionalist approach)

2. Historical approach.

3. Experimental approach.

DESCRIPTIVE APPROACH

This approach involves studying the phenomena by describing e.g. behavior of children attitudes of teacher
school functions\ academic performance of student voters’ attitude etc.

Descriptive approach connects information that describes or answers questions concerning a certain present
occurrence of social setting.

The descriptive approach analyses and reports information as it is at present (why, where, how)

The descriptive approach is conducted so as to investigate the current state of issues using survey on the
grounds. The following can be used.

 Interviews
 Questionnaires
 Observations

2. HISTORICAL APPROACH

This involves the study of the initial specific conditions which led to the problem. This approach is carried out
with intention of knowing the causes, effects and trends related to the same situation. It involves the
specification of the whole sequence of conditions that led to such a problem. One is able to use the past
development changes on a similar problems. The historical approach obtains information or data either from
stored documents or living sources. It uses i.e. Interviews or books.

3. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

It involves manipulation of varying/changing the value of one factor. This is referred to independent variables so
as to observe the impact on the second factor dependent compared to the other approaches. It is least used
method of approach. Researchers have difficult task in controlling and manipulating variables that is especially
when it comes to studying subjects in the field out of laboratory situation .i.e. an experimental approach was
used to test performance in a school. Different groups receive different treatment each was taught using different
methods. End of term exam was set and performance compared. The experimental approach tries to find out
result after manipulating the variable (futuristic approach) what will it be?

NOTE: CONCERN ON EDUCATIONAL RESERCH

 Showed education uses qualitative or quantitative analysis in solving educational problems.

  What ethnical consideration should education observe?

 In 1918 Josiah Royce urged that there is no science in education but was challenged. Education has
theories adopted and uses them to explain its operations.

 The theories and principles plus facts constitute the science in education. Therefore education has
science and because of this we can apply scientific efforts which theories can explain the situation in
schools

 Science education involves human being the issues to determine whether the human activities e.g.
education and behavior conceptualized. problems in education can be quantitatively analyzed e.g.
student’s performance and ranking etc.

 -Other behavior attitudes opinion of school children towards a given situation. The important point is to
understand the kinds of question problems in order to decide which strategy quantitative or qualitative
is suitable.

*Research in education involves studying human beings and their phenomena unlike in physical research where
we deal with live things. It needs a number of ethical concerns. Give certain rules that should be observed.

They must not be harmed mentally, psychologically, physically, emotionally or morally.

-The right to privacy. They need to be respected and protected.

-The integrity and honesty should be paramount. There is need for absolute honest even in the final information
on report. Give the correct information. Don’t alter the figures.

c. RELATION BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY AND OTHER SOCIOL SCIENCES

Sociology is one of the disciplines of sciences.

Social science refers to various disciplines that focus the attention on specific aspects of society i.e.
Anthropology, Psychology, Economics, Demography and Historical. The disciplines study human behavior
which is very unstable. Sociologists very much conscious of this fact obtain a considerable amount of
information about social phenomena through systematic observation.

Normally scientific knowledge is acquired through scientific method. Science has the following assumptions.

-The world exist both physically and socially.

-Knowledge of reality obtained via human senses.

-The world is orderly and there are clear causes and effects to explain the physical as well as social phenomena.

SOCIOLOGY VERSES ANTHROPOLOGY

This is biologically and partly social science.

Physical anthropology deals with origin of man and variations in human aspects species and cultural
anthropology deals with culture and ways of life among communities. Sociology using Anthropology
establishes how such aspects have contributed to the social life of those people.

SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY

-Science of mind /mental process encompassing the capacity of minds that receives sensations giving the
meaning and responding to them. Psychologist investigates inter-persions relation and groups’ membership in
order to explain behavior of certain group.
-It is concern with connections between groups, individual experiences behavior and personality development as
a result of interactions. How an individual’s action influences the outcome of a social process. Also how one’s
mind is affected incase the interaction is not there.

ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY

-Study of production goods and services. It deals with lost and prices saving and investment phenomena.

-Economists explore how economic order is related to and dependants upon certain economic factors e.g.
government, public opinion, family life & social gatherings.

-production and distribution of wealth at various levels; government level, societal level and family level.

POLITICAL SCIENCE AND SOCIOLOGY

Political science consist of two elements

 -Political theory
 Administration

POLITICAL THEORY deals with ideas about politics those times of the past to the present

ADMINISTRATION deals with the formal structures and functions of government agencies.

-However neither political theory nor government administration gives extended attention to the political
behavior.

-Political sociology investigates various aspects of political behavior e.g. voting exercise and its effects, popular
attitudes and values about political issues, political movements and tries to establish the root causes, effects and
remedies to certain political behavior.

2. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES AND THEIR APPLICATION.

Theory is a statement of how and why specific facts are related. Is a statement of ideas which provides an
explanation of something? Is a systematic explanation that provides explanation for human society?

-Therefore sociological theories are statements which attempt to provide generalization concerning social
phenomena e.g. how and why do people in society i.e. behave the way they do.

-Sociological theories attempts to organize ideas principles so that we are able to explain various ways in which
a society is structured and how that affects the pattern of behavior.

1. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONISM THEORY (Consensus theory).

-It emphasizes structure and function of the various institutions of the society e.g. family, religion government
e.t.c.

-It sees the society as an integrated system maintaining equilibrium. The institutions are interrelated and provide
certain behavior that serves to maintain the harmony in the society. According to it for a society to survive the
following must be fulfilled;

1. The members share some common values attitudes and perceptions. Each part of the society must contribute
some necessary activity to the whole.

-The various parts of the society must realize that they depend on each other for a relatively stable society to
exist.
1. ASSUMPTION OF THE THEORY.

-It assumes that societies and institutions e.g. schools are made up of interdependent part all working together to
the full functioning of the whole society.

-It assumes that every part of society shares every part of values and their consensus is necessary in decision
making.

-It assumes that every feature serves a purpose within a society. It is based on top- down formula so as to
observe order and stability.

IMPLICATION TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Education system produces and gives skills in various occupations. According to the theory selection to higher
levels of education is based on merit. And the merit is determined by ones performance in competitive result.
Those who meet the requirements are the ones to proceed and later join the higher occupations. The theorists
believe that individuals who don’t perform well are lazy and have less intellectual abilities. It preserves the
status quo in the society.

CONFLICT THEORY

It looks at the society as an arena of groups and special classes seeking dominance. According to them whenever
people live together they tend to form organization. These specific organization have specific functions where
by some are subjected to the commands of others e.g. school setup teachers are subjected to head teacher,
students to teachers, children to parents and parents to the society etc

ASSUMPTION

-It assumes there is tension in the society which is created by competing spirit and individual interest by the
different groups.

-It assumes that some parts of society are more powerful and important than others e.g. the ‘haves’ and ‘have
not’

-The competing groups see each other as a threat which creates tension and struggle.

The ‘have not’s’ cause tension with their constant demands to also get a larger share of what is in the society.
The struggle between the groups creates frequent reforms.

IMPLICATION TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

According to conflict theory reforms in education should be observed so that we may have a good educational
system. People need to be sensitized so that they can contribute positively to the education system to
accommodate new ideas for the betterment of education.

Improvement of education can only be achieved if they are accompanied by wider / broader social charges.
Conflict theorists feel the different allocation of resources should be balanced, so that each educational
institution is equipped with facilities that will provide a good learning environment.

-According to the theorists everybody in the society should be given equal chance in schooling.

-They discourage the idea of leader (political) giving more educational benefits to certain institutions in order to
gain prominence even in the social life.

-Conflict theorists modify education system but they do not necessarily destroy it. Their perception is based on
the betterment for the sake of majority.
SYMBOLIC INTERRACTION THEORY

It examines the society as a product of everyday interactions of people.

-The theory focuses on the individuals’ definition of self and the concept of the group.

SYMBOLES carry different meaning. It is normally attached by members of a group. A particular group has
symbols which are created, transmitted and understood by the particular group. Some symbols are derived from
the culture of the society. You may find similar symbols but having different meaning in different cultures/
society.

INTRUCION It refers to the contact and relating of human individuals.

SYMBOLIC INTERRACTION Theory states that human beings become social when they are able to learn
attitudes and emotions with which objects, actions and behavior are viewed by others(Every action has a
meaning)

ASSUMPTION

1. They assume that human being act towards others on the bases of the meaning of the actions reflected during
the interactions.

2. Meaning arise out of social interaction when you interact face to face.

3. Meaning is modified in an interpretative process by the person dealing with the encounter. The images of
other people, patterns and behavior are not fixed but they are subjected to modification.

4. They focus on interaction between groups e.g. Tr vs ppls Tr vs. parents, students vs. parents etc.

5. Interaction theory helps one to understand the dynamics of classroom teacher relationship with learners’
clever learners vs. the slow learners etc. There are two main interaction theories;

1. LABELING.

2. EXCHANGE

Labeling means; attaching tags to individuals which may have a negative or a positive impact. Labeling
classifies people according to various characteristics e.g. stupid, clever etc.

Exchange theory emphasizes rewards as per the specific interaction. It assumes that there are costs and rewards
in our interactions i.e a student learns that there will be exams and rewards or certificates after, or remarks like
very good, well done or a gift. This reinforces good behavior.

IMPLICATION TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

According to symbolic interaction theorists, in education teachers need to be careful the kind of impression they
give their learners. For this contribute highly on the degree of understanding of the learners. Let the symbolic
impact be positive by giving appositive impression. When it comes to labeling, let one give positive labels that
are encouraging to the learners. Those that boost their confidence not those that discourage.

Also streaming students according to performance is not good. Let the abilities be mixed.

Educationists should be careful with the rewards that they give because depending on the situation may cause
positive or negative impact.

When it comes to punishment to deter certain behavior they consider also many factors like, age, mistake done
and circumstances too. Let it not be extreme punishment but reasonable.
FEMIST THEORY

Is a social movement which educates the granting of the same social, political and economic rights to women as
the one enjoyed by their counter parts.

Within feminists movement there are three major ecological positions liberal, Marxist and radical feminist.

LIBERAL FEMINIST

They argue that women should enjoy equal right because all people are born equal. Differences should be
eliminated whenever gender inequalities are detected.

They attribute women’s disadvantages and oppression to socialization process that undermines women and
assigns them to roles restricted to reproductive and domestic sphere.

They advocate for re-socialization of society and provision of equal opportunities.

MARXIST SOCIETIES

They account for women’s oppression and inequality in society to the division of labour in the home/society. As
a result boys and girls are socialized and educated differently to fulfill different roles in a sexist and capitalized
society. They recommend establishment of social structures free from capitals.

RADICAL FEMINIST

They associate/ attribute women’s inferior standing in society and oppression to sex; class system and
particularly according to firestone (1970) the origin of the sex class system lies in the biologically determined
reproductive roles of men and women.

-The radicals associate women’s under privileged position to capitalism and patriarchal male dominated special
structures especial the family.

-They demand for abolition of all male dominated institution and particularly marriage.

NOTE

A major contribution of the feminist theorist is that they have made the society to be aware of women’s
disadvantaged position in society. As a result of this education; efforts are now being made towards elimination
of inequalities between men and women in all areas of human life.

IMPLICATION TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

1. Learners are being given equal opportunities in school (boys and girls).
2. Organizations have come up with strategies to reinforce the education of girl-child.
3. Learners are encouraged to pursue areas of their interest irrespective of being boys and girls.
4. Family sociology to come up with family education program to sensitize especially men on how to
manage their families. Hence producing learners who will live as per the societal demands.

3. SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION AS A DISTICT DISCIPLINE OF KNOWLEDGE

-Sociology of education is a branch of sociology which studies social institutions effect on educational
process and outcomes.

-It investigates the function of education i.e. what education does to other parts of/or other social
institutions e.g. family.
 -It seeks to establish the history of social cultural forces and its effect on education e.g. religious cultural
heritage on educational systems and individuals personality development.

-Sociology of education is the study of structures of the educational system in relation to society.

EMILE DURKHEIM

He viewed sociology of education as a branch that was to look into the preparation of making the youth.
Useful member of society

According to Durkheim education was a process which deliberately transmits culture through schools.

Durkheim viewed education as an exercise performed by adult on those yet to be socialized in society.

-It systematically observes, analyses, and explains education problems in regard to its society e.g. lack of
discipline in school due to initiation ceremonies, child labour (absenteeism)

It uses scientific methods to study relationships between education and society.

-It also uses application of sociological perspectives to solve and plan issues in education.

Its origin is associated with:-

1. Emile Durkheim
2. Karl Mannheim
3. John Dewey
PURPOSE OF SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
1. Looks at relationship between a society and its educational system.
2. It systematically observes analyses education with regard to its social benefits and vice v ( how
social activities affects the education )
3. It asses the influence social relationships and social institutions have on school and education in
general.
4. It brings out the functions of education on various groups of people on the society e.g. socializes
those being educated , transmits culture, develops employable skills in learners [Link]
5. Sociology of education comes up with strategies on how to develop good behavior changes in
society and good personality development.
6. s The disciplines come up with the policies which enhance national unity during the socialization
process(Education) i.e. a common syllabus
7. It examines the teacher and teaching activity. Assessing the role of the teacher in the educative
process and teaching profession
8. Look at the teacher’s status in the society
9. They systematically observe learners environment and its impact and influence on the learners
ability of acquisition of mental, physical and personality development.
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
1. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
This is the first scholar to introduce the teaching of sociology of education into the teacher training colleges.
He was the first to analyse education from a sociological perspective.
He recommended the study of the relations between education and the other social institutions at the beginning
of the twentieth centuary.
Emile felt that apart from giving the learners intellectual skills education needed to equip them with moral and
social skills.
2. Karl-Mannheim(1893-1941)
He was German Sociologist who also advocated for sociological approach to educational issues.
He viewed education as a social control measure.
In his book ; man and society, he states that education can only be understood we know for what society and
what social position the learners are being educated for.
He argued that we cannot educate in a vacuum- we must diagnose what kind of society we live in. this will
enable us to plan our educational programme well.
Mannheim with Stewart (1962) perceived the sociological approach to educational problems as the only way of
providing positive aims to education. They argued that neither educational aims nor educational techniques can
be conceived without a context, but rather that they are to a very high degree socially directed.
3. John Dewey (1852-1952
He was an American scholar. He is one of the recent educationists whose ideas contributed to the development
of sociology of education.
After observing how first simple communities were changing due to the industrial revolution , he noted that the
main institution that was entrusted with the child’s education; the church and the school were unable to cope up
with the pressure of change.
He stated that they were inadequate in preparing the child to meet the new social changes adopted by the
society. ( an example of a child born in the village vs a born town child).
To avert this seeming breakdown in the child’s nurturing, Dewey through his experiment school Chicago
reveals that education is to foster social spirit of co-operation and mutual aid in the child and provide an
environment within the classroom itself the sort of living situation in which cooperation may be elicited.
To achieve the mission Dewey realized that a close relationship between the school and the individual homes of
children and the general neighborhood/community should be fostered.
He viewed school as the second home. Hence by offering social education to a growing child, makes one to be
independent.
Dewey’s ideas were developed by his followers into what we call project method of teaching.
The study of the relationship between education and society up to the late 1920s was known as educational
sociology. After this it adopted the name Sociology of Education. The difference between the discipline of
educational sociology and sociology of education is that the former was not research based, it simply borrowed
the findings of the discipline of sociology and applied them to the institution of education. The later; sociology
of education involved research of its own.
4. Sir Fred Clark
He was noted for having emphasized that sociological knowledge be used when planning educational
progrmmes to enable education produce citizens who have characters desirable in society.

4. SOCIALIZATION AND EDUCATION.

Socialization is the acquisition of social characteristics of human beings.
Its alife long process
It’s a process through which individuals learn the culture of their society.
Ezewu 1983;6
It’s a process through which individuals learn the culture of their society steadily so that they are able to live
fully and function in it as responsible adult members.
-the most important form of socialization takes place during infancy within the family (primary socialization).
Through interaction with the family members the child learns the language and many other basic behavior
patterns of a particular society.
Every society has its own specific method in socializing its young ones.
Thus socialization is very important coz without it an individual would bear little or no resemblance to any
human behavior defined as normal by a given society.
PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION
For the process of socialization to be successful the following features are very important;
1. TIMING
It must be time oriented. No individual is able to learn everything at once. We learn better as we grow
and mature physically and mentally.
More advanced skills are only acquired after mastering the basic skills.
Note; some early learning may make it difficult for later learning to take place.
 2. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
It is characterized by a sequence of events. That’s it occurs in stages;
Freud (1950) identified five stages of socialization that all individuals pass through from infancy to
adulthood;
 Oral stage: during this period the body depends only on the use of the mouth to communicate.
The only audible language known to the baby is crying. The child’s contact is mainly with the
mother who has to understand the language and provide remedy.
 Anal stage: the child learns how to control bowel movements, learns to receive and give love.
The child learns to distinguish correct and incorrect behavior that was given by the socializing
agent and also through rewards and punishments. At this stage the mother performs the role
of socializing the child on behalf of the society.
 Oedipus conflict/phallic stage: this period is marked by the ‘aedipal crisis” the child learns to
identify, accept and trust other members of the family coz the child is being taken care of by
more people. A feature that appears prominently at this stage is jealous ie a child tends to
become closely attached to the parent of the opposite sex. So a boy will have greater
attachment to the mother and thereby display a feeling of jealousy towards the father who may
appear to be in competition for the mother’s attention. The feeling of jealous in the boy is
referred to as ‘oedipus complex’. The ‘electra complex’ is the strong attachment the girl has
for the father and the feeling of jealous she displays towards the mother who is seen also as a
competing factor in the father-daughter relationship. Social measures need to be taken to
mould the child into an individual that reflect the appropriate sex role, ie the right toys. Once
they mature they identify their sex and look upon the parent as a role model not a competitor.
 Latency stage (6-11yrs): it is a period of after the oedipal conflict has been resolved.
Throughout this period the child’s sexual feelings are latent, they are busy exploring the world
and learning new things.
 Adolescence stage (12-19): it’s the dawn of adulthood. It begins with the onset of puberty and
includes the years referred to as the teen years. It is the intervening period between the
childhood and adulthood. It is a stage that is characterized by crisis, conflicts and
disagreements between the parents and adolescents. The demand independence from parental
control in order to be free to experiment with certain activities such as sex and other behaviors
e g drugs. Other characteristics include they have their own language.
 Life long process: much of the socialization occurs during childhood and adolescence stage
however socialization takes place as long as we live.
We have three categories of socialization:
 Primary socialization
 Secondary socialization
 Anticipatory socialization
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
These are social structures within which a child is socialized. The socializing structures are what we refer to as
socializing a gent. Here is where they learn and internalize skills that are expected of them by society at
different stages of life.
1. FAMILY
The family lays the foundations for basic personality, attitudes, values and morals orientation in one’s
life. The main socializes at this stage are parents and older siblings. In the traditional African set up the
members of the extended family also socialized an individual. The nature of learning that takes place at
the family level includes:
- Development of social skills.
- Basic psychomotor skills eg walking
- Value orientation eg respect for authority, obedience.
- Performance of domestic duties a long line of gender.
- patterns of behavior in societal life eg pastoralist, Christians, hunters etc
2. SCHOOL
The school is next to the family in terms of importance as an agent of socialization. It uses both formal and
informal approach in its socializing function.
Under formal socialization the following factors exist;
- Presence of human people that’s professionals, highly educated and trained with special skills.
- There are leaders who run the program.
- There is the presence of rules and regulations meant to guide everybody in the institution.
- The goal are stipulated so all activities should be geared towards attaining those goals.
During the co- curriculum activities the learners are able to informally mix up with others and develop
relationships. Hence they get to be socialized.
The knowledge and ideas that a child is socialized into at school include:
- Formal knowledge related to basic intellectual skills like reading, writing etc
- Introduction to knowledge pertaining to one’s culture and society.
- Vocational and occupational skills that an individual require to pursue a career after school.
- Social skills that will enable one to fully function as an adult member in the society.
- The school also transmits and preserves the culture of the society.
- Reforms character/behavior in the learners.
- Facilitates social mobility; ascent.
- Facilitates allocation of social positions.
- Instills new skills ;advanced technology
- Stratification and class formation.
- Indoctrination of ideas.
- Enhances competition attitude in the learners.
[Link].
These are people of the same age group.
They learn values like cooperation, responsibility, honesty and societal values.
However there is a risk of one being socialized negatively during the peer socialization. Therefore
parents need to be careful the peers their children socialize with.
[Link] MEDIA
Communication and entertainment are the main function of mass media. Depending on the channel, journal or
news paper one one reads, one can be socialized positively or negatively.
5. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
These institutions are meant to perpetuate the morals, beliefs and practices of the respective religious groups.
They are also supposed to reinforce the positive teachings of the family, school and community.

Socialization and education

Therefore there is a lot of similarities between socialization and education. For instance the major similarity is
that they are both life long process.
However we find a few differences ie,
- Socialization equips one with the acceptable norms of the society. One has to take them without
questioning.
- Education on the other hand has an element of training and often follows a prepared curriculum
designed to equip the individual with specific occupational skills, attitudes and knowledge necessary
for earning a living.
- More so education teaches one on how to think critically.
Bennaars 1993;4, ‘education helps one to make judgments & distinctions. Therefore education unlike
socialization can help an individual to nurture and cultivate thinking ability.’

EDUCATION AND THE TRANSMISSION OF CULTURE, MEANING OF CULTURE;

Talor 1902, define culture

As a complex whole which include knowledge, beliefs, art, moral laws , customs and other capabilities acquired
by man.
-Culture is specific to a particular society though we have universal culture.
Each individual society has its own body of custom and beliefs.
Good 1959, defined culture as;
The aggregate of the social ethical intellectual, artistic, government and industrial attainments characteristic of a
group by which it can be distinguished from or compared with others.
Therefore culture is said to be the accepted way of living of a particular human group.
Material culture: paintings, food, dress code.
Non –matter: beliefs, customs, value systems, language etc.
Causes of cultural change.
All cultures experience change but modern societies experience rapid cultural social change compared to
traditional ones. The change is brought about by internal (endogamous ) factors and external changes
( exogamous)

Internal factors (Endogamous).

This change is caused by factors that originate within a specific society e.g technological innovation, ideology,
cultural conflicts and planned change.
-Technological innovations TV. Computers contraceptive pills phones.
-Ideology:-Interrelated religious or political beliefs, values or norms.
Social cultural conflict whereby there is conflict within a society. The solution agreed upon initiates the process
of change.
Planned change: education falls under planned change. It brings about a new outlook of life through the
curriculum in the school system.
External change ( exogamous)
These can be either biological, natural calamities, or diffusion of ideas from more powerful cultures.
Biological &Natural calamities
Include; floods, drought landslides and earthquakes, emergency of new disease eg ebola, etc.
The effects of the above depend upon the severity and ability of the society to absorb or react to them. These
issues are normally sudden and require people to make fast and rapid adjustments in their behavior and way of
life i.e AIDS makes people refrain from polygamous lifestyle to practice monogamous and safe sex.
Diffusion is the transmission of traits from one culture to another during interaction process. Culture diffuse
from more powerful to weaker people, from more technologically advanced to less technologically advanced
nations.
Note; culture is dynamic as Ogburn (1962 ) states ; culture change does not occur in any uniform manner.’
Content of culture
 Culture includes; speech, material traits, art, religious practices, family and social practices.
 Speech involves; language, writing system and gestures.
 Material traits ; food, dressing artier, grooming, utensils, weapons, housing etc.
 Art; carvings, paintings & music.
 Myths & religious practices.
 Family and social practices (methods of establishing relationships).
 Property (mode of production and type of trade).
 Government; political system
Characteristics of culture
1. Culture is a product of human interactions. It is not inborn the process of enculturation begins at birth.
2. Culture extends beyond the life of each member of the society. In that when one dies those still living
continue with the cultural practices. The new born are initiated into the culture to ensure it’s continuity.
3. Culture is cumulative and transmittable from generation to generation.
4. Culture provides people with identity, ( where they are coming from & where they are heading to).
5. Culture is adaptive and integrative eg it adapts to the environmental forces and develops tolerance
towards other people’s views.
6. Culture posses some degree of stability because of the norms & value systems.
7. Culture is to some extend dynamic due to certain forces.
EDUCATION &CULTURE
Culture and school curriculum
Education belongs to the process of enculturation whereby the young ones are initiated into the culture of their
given society during the schooling process.
Culture forms the content of what is taught during the socialization and education. That’s culture is the
curriculum.
The following are some of the subjects taught and the cultural value they transmit;
1. Language : communication is more than just talking because what is said must be understood. For
communication is the transmitting of thoughts, ideas & feelings from one mind to another.
2. Agricultural sciences, vocational & technological courses ; members of a society must feed themselves
and improve their conditions of living by working. The subjects reinforce the skills.
3. Aesthetic values ; each society has its own ways of promoting & appreciating beauty. So art and music
promotes that.
4. Religious education ; the desire to worship is inherent in all humans. Society provides religious
education to meet the need. Hence religious educ assists learners to appreciate moral values.
5. Geography & natural science ; physical environment is in reality the main source of livelihood. So the
teaching of the a bove makes learners to master their environment early enough to help them know how
to work on it accordingly.
6. Social sciences; history & sociology. They impart knowledge that enables members of a given society
to co-exist under acceptable social conditions.
7. Building & survey courses. Shelter is a basic need and each society has it’s own design of shelter. This
assists learners to construct good shelter suitable to their physicl environment & geographical climate.
8. Governance & law; governance & ruler ship are features found in all societies. No society can survive
without rule & order. The school system instills this in the learners through the teaching of good
governance through the prefects. Also the study of law teaches social control.

EDUCATION SOCIAL STRATIFICATION.

Def. Social stratification is the pattern of class status in the society. It is the presence of social groups
that are ranked one above the other usually in terms of the amount of power, prestige, rewards and
wealth that one possesses.
Mbiti(1974) defines stratification as ; the division of a population into two or more layers…between
which there are differences in privileges , restrictions, rewards and obligations.
Ezewu (1983) ; society is divided into specific layers into which individuals are fitted and categorized.
Each layer is called stratum.
Therefore the process of categorizing is called social stratification.
Patterns of social stratification differ in shapes. The patterns portray forms of inequality based on
unequal rewards i.e income.
Members of a strata share a common relation to the means of production. They are identified through a
certain level either of education or wealth or area of residence.
NOTE: status theory states that “ all people have different status which determine the roles they play in
society. The society also gives them different prestige depending on status’
Social class
Max Weber states, ‘A social class is an aggregate of people who have similar life chances or
opportunities to education, jobs or positions of power’
Karl Max states, ‘ an aggregate of people who stand in the same relationship to the means of
production such as land, factories management or mines.’
There are basically three major social classes:
1. Upper class: cream of the society the rich/VIPs
2. Middle class: mainly professionals
3. Lower class: laborers.

Effects of social stratification on education

 We have either positive or negative effects on education depending on the stratum. i.e
Positive effects are:
These will be there if one comes from a high class. The children will:
1. The children will access school education early.
2. The books and other reading materials available.
3. Will attend the best school available.
4. Will always receive encouragement or motivation to continue with education.
5. Will be provided with good model English.
6. Home environment will be conducive.
7. Job aspiration is high.
Negative effects, one from a low class.
1. Lacks parental reinforcement in education activities.
2. Socialization is poor.
3. Can only attend a public school nearby.
4. Lacks basic books and materials.
5. There is a lot of insecurity due to poverty level.
6. A lot of cultural influence in one’s schooling.
7. Lacks any role model.
8. Some teachers hate them too.

Education and social mobility

This refers to the movement of a person from one social status to another along the social scale. The social
mobility changes an individual’s position in social hierarchy. It can either be upward or downward.
Types of social mobility.
1. Contest / Achieved status.
These are positions open to competition. Therefore those who merit achieve the mobility of achieved
status. It can either be through education, an occupation or marriage.
2. Ascribed status.
These are status one achieves because of family links, residence or type of school one went to.
Education is one of the factors gives people upward mobility depending on the final grade and level.
Therefore an individual has the power to change a social class using education.
THE TEACHER AND THE TEACHING PROFESION
Teaching: the process of providing information, knowledge or skills to others.
Teacher : the people who ar involved in the process of providing information, knowledge to others.
Duncan states: ‘ teaching is a unique profession, rational and human activity in which one creatively uses
knowledge to promote the learning and welfare of others.’
Origin of teaching: it had a humble beginning. It originated with the missionaries. Although it is a humble
profession, it is a noble profession since al other professions pass through the hands of teachers.
ROLE OF THE TEACHER WITHIN THE SCHOOL.
1. Disciplinarian
2. Mediator of the learning process.
3. Judge.
4. Role model
5. Curriculum developer and implementer.
6. Socialize
7. Develops the child’s intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical aspects.
Teachers’ role within the community
1. Participates in developing the society
2. Public servant who serves everybody even with knowledge on current issues.
3. Role model
CONFLICT IN SOCIAL ROLES OF A TEACHER.
Conflict in the social roles of the teacher originates from the following:
 1. Socio-economic role: the teacher is expected by the public to maintain high living standards and yet the
teachers’ salary cannot allow them.
2. The teacher is viewed as a rival by politicians. Therefore the teacher is not free as a citizen when it
comes to political issue. The politicians would always tell them that they go back to where they belong
the classroom.
3. A teacher does not play a role of an expert. One is just told what to do and has to follow. A teacher can
teach all subjects.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROFESSION
1. Specialized body of knowledge.
The kind of knowledge the people have is unique and only understood by those trained in the
profession.
2. Power and autonomy: There is independence on the part of the practitioners to make critical decisions
about their profession.
3. Commitment to job. The professionals must be very committed.
4. Social prestige; the profession must enjoy prestige and high social status.
Therefore looking at the above characteristics does teaching merit as a profession?
Look at the salary, prestige autonomy and even specialization. Teaching does not meet the above.