CHAPTER 14: EDUCATIONHOW EDUCATION HAS CHANGEDChanges in U.S. EducationHighest Completion Rates in HistoryDiscussionSOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATIONSlide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10ApplicationSlide 12Sociological Perspectives on EducationSlide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22SOME PROBLEMS IN U.S. EDUCATIONProblemsSlide 25ProblemsSlide 27Slide 28Slide 29NEW DIRECTIONS IN U.S. EDUCATIONSlide 31Slide 32Internet ConnectionsCHAPTER 14:EDUCATIONHOW EDUCATION HAS CHANGED•Education—a society's mechanism for transmitting attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, values, norms, and skills to its members through formal, systematic training•Schooling—formal training and instruction in a classroom1Changes in U.S. Education•Universal education has expanded.•Community colleges have flourished.•Public higher education has burgeoned.•Student diversity has increased.1Highest Completion Rates in History•Eighty-six percent of Americans 25 years or older have completed at least high school.•Twenty-nine percent have completed at least a bachelor's degree.1Discussion•What level of education are you expected to attain?•Where do these expectations come from?1SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION•Functionalism emphasizes the benefits of education.•Manifest functions:–Socializing children–Transmitting knowledge and culture–Increasing cultural integration–Encouraging cultural innovation–Allowing upward mobility2•Latent Functions:–Providing child care–Matchmaking–Decreasing job competition–Creating social networks–Creating business opportunities2Sociological Perspectives on EducationDiscussion•How well are U.S. schools doing at providing these benefits?•What are some of the dysfunctions of education?2•Conflict theory addresses the ways in which education perpetuates social inequality.•Social class predicts educational attainment.2Sociological Perspectives on Education•Access to capital reinforces and reproduces the existing class structure.–Economic capital—income and monetary assets–Cultural capital—social assets such as education and attitudes–Social capital—social networks2Sociological Perspectives on EducationApplication•Identify the type of capital: economic, cultural, or social.–Andrea has been familiar with the college experience her whole life. Her grandparents, parents, and siblings have all gone to college.–Tina is the daughter of a college professor and knows many of the people on campus.•Conflict theory points to gatekeeping—Those in power control access to education and jobs.•IQ tests and other standardized tests can be forms of gatekeeping.2Sociological Perspectives on EducationSociological Perspectives on Education•The Hidden Curriculum–Transmits nonacademic knowledge, values, attitudes, norms, and beliefs–Schools in low-income and working-class neighborhoods stress obedience, following directions, and punctuality.–Elite private schools encourage leadership, creativity, and people skills.2DiscussionHow do schools incorporate a hidden curriculum?2•Conflict theory also points to the use of credentialism in maintaining social class distinctions.•Credentialism refers to the increasing demand for certificates and degrees.2Sociological Perspectives on Education•Feminist theorists consider how gender affects education.–In almost every country, women's literacy rates lag behind those of men.–Low schooling and illiteracy diminish women's economic independence, increase their dependency on men, and decrease their ability to control their own lives.2Sociological Perspectives on Education•U.S. women earn 62% of associate's degrees, 58% of bachelor's degrees, and 60% of master's degrees.–Gender achievement gaps have narrowed.–Some colleges are giving men preferential treatment in admissions.2Sociological Perspectives on Education•Symbolic interaction theories consider how social contexts affect education.•Tracking assigns students to specific educational programs.•It is sometimes based on stereotypes and results in labeling.2Sociological Perspectives on Education•Tracking creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Students achieve what is expected of them.2Sociological Perspectives on EducationDiscussion•In what ways is tracking beneficial?•In what ways is tracking detrimental?2•Symbolic interactionists are also interested in student engagement—how involved students are in their own learning.–Parental involvement has a strong and positive effect on student achievement.–The No Child Left Behind Law seems to have diminished student involvement.–Low-income, minority students are the least likely to be involved.2Sociological Perspectives on EducationApplication•Identify the correct theoretical perspective:–Education produces gender inequality.–Education contributes to society.–Education reinforces the social class structure.–Education results in self-fulfilling prophecies.SOME PROBLEMS IN U.S. EDUCATION•Quantity and Quality of Schooling–Students from other countries outperform U.S. students in science and math.•School Budgets–The U.S. devotes only 7% of its federal budget for public education.–Low-income neighborhood schools receive the least amount of funding.3Problems •Teachers' Effectiveness–According to most college faculty, students are not prepared for college.–Many U.S. teachers teach out of their field.–Public school teachers earn less than other employees.3Discussion•What can be done to encourage education as a college major?•What can be done to attract qualified teachers to public schools?3Problems•Control over Curricula–The No Child Left Behind Act requires:•Testing students in reading and math•Tutoring services•School restructuring if the students are not performing well•Set standards for teachers' qualifications3Discussion•What are some of the positive results of No Child Left Behind?•What are some of the negative results of No Child Left Behind?3Problems•Dropping out–Over 9% of Americans ages 16 to 24 are high school dropouts.–Foreign-born youth tend to drop out because of problems with the language, job conflicts, teen pregnancy, and gang membership.–U.S.-born youth tend to drop out because of family problems or lack of motivation.3Problems•Grade Inflation–The number of students earning "A" grades is increasing while performance is decreasing.–Grade
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