SOCIOLOGY
OF EDUCATION
CUSTOM PUBLICATION
Thokozani Mathebula
Peggy Siyakwazi
Sipho Vilakazi
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
SOUTH AFRICA
,Contents
Contributors iv
Chapter 1 Theories in sociology of education vi
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Key concepts 2
1.3 Functionalism 6
1.4 Conflict theory 12
1.5 Symbolic interactionism 19
Summary 23
References 24
Chapter 2 Practices in sociology of education: Social institutions,
ecology and the role of the school in society 27
2.1 Introduction 28
2.2 Social institutions 29
2.3 Ecology of the school 34
2.4 Role of the school in society 38
Summary 48
References 49
Chapter 3 Citizenship education 51
3.1 Introduction 52
3.2 Ancient and modern concepts of citizenship 53
3.4 Citizenship education in the United Kingdom, the United
States of America and South Africa 61
3.5 The future of citizenship education in South African schools:
From competitive elitism and 'new patriotism' to cosmopolitanism 68
Summary 73
References 73
Chapter 4 Diversity and culture in education 75
4.1 Introduction 76
4.2 What is diversity? 77
4.3 Who am I? · 79
4.4 What is culture? 82
4.5 Social stratification 84
4.6 Theoretical perspectives in sociology of education 85
4.7 ~~~ ~
4.8 Race 88
4.9 Class 90
4.10 Access to education 92
Summary 92
References 93
Glossary 95
Index 103
,Chapter 1
Theories in sociology of
education
Velisiwe Gasa and Sue du Plessis
STRUCTURE OF CHAPTER
-
Introduction
l ~
l Symbolic interactionism
Principles of the theory of symbolic
Key concepts interaction ism
Sociology Assumptions about the theory of
Education symbolic interactionism
Sociology of education The theory of symbolic interactionism
Functions of sociology of education and families
" - The theory of symbolic interaction ism
1 applied to society
Divisions within the theory of symbolic
Functionalism interaction ism
Durkheim, Parsons and functionalism
Assumptions about the theory of
-
f!
functionalism 1:
Critique of functionalism J
··~
Conflict theory
Marx, Weber, Mills and conflict theory
Conflict theory and families
Conflict theory applied to society
Assumptions about conflict theory
Propositions of the proponents of
conflict theory
Critique of conflict theory
l
, LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After you have worked through this chapter, you should be able to:
• discuss the nature and extent of the sociology of education paradigm and how ideolo-
gies are shaping global society
• analyse function?lism, conflict theory (Marxism) and symbolic interactionism criti-
cally as theoretical frameworks in the context of sociology of education
• consider how these three theoretical frameworks provide differentiated interpreta-
tions and are applied in the context of the family, school and society.
GLOSSARY
• assimilation
• assumption
• bourgeoisie
• class conflict
• deviance
• functionalism
• ideology
• Marxism (conflict theory)
• meritocracy
• patriarchy
• pragmatism
• proletariat
• school of thought
• social capital
• social class
• social conflict
• social consensus
• social control
• social order
• social patterns
• social structure
• solidarity
• symbolic interactionism
1 . 1 INTRODUCTION
All educational processes and the social development of all individuals are affected
by social institutions and the experiences of individuals within these institutions. This
describes the field of study of sociology of education. This field of specialisation can
be classified as a philosophical as well as a sociological concept, denoting ideologies,
curricula and pedagogical techniques of the inculcation and management of knowledge
as well as the social reproduction of personalities and cultures. It is concerned with
the relationships, activities and reactions of teachers and learners in the classroom. It
emphasises sociological problems in the realm of education (Hallinan, 2000: 65-84).
OF EDUCATION
CUSTOM PUBLICATION
Thokozani Mathebula
Peggy Siyakwazi
Sipho Vilakazi
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
SOUTH AFRICA
,Contents
Contributors iv
Chapter 1 Theories in sociology of education vi
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Key concepts 2
1.3 Functionalism 6
1.4 Conflict theory 12
1.5 Symbolic interactionism 19
Summary 23
References 24
Chapter 2 Practices in sociology of education: Social institutions,
ecology and the role of the school in society 27
2.1 Introduction 28
2.2 Social institutions 29
2.3 Ecology of the school 34
2.4 Role of the school in society 38
Summary 48
References 49
Chapter 3 Citizenship education 51
3.1 Introduction 52
3.2 Ancient and modern concepts of citizenship 53
3.4 Citizenship education in the United Kingdom, the United
States of America and South Africa 61
3.5 The future of citizenship education in South African schools:
From competitive elitism and 'new patriotism' to cosmopolitanism 68
Summary 73
References 73
Chapter 4 Diversity and culture in education 75
4.1 Introduction 76
4.2 What is diversity? 77
4.3 Who am I? · 79
4.4 What is culture? 82
4.5 Social stratification 84
4.6 Theoretical perspectives in sociology of education 85
4.7 ~~~ ~
4.8 Race 88
4.9 Class 90
4.10 Access to education 92
Summary 92
References 93
Glossary 95
Index 103
,Chapter 1
Theories in sociology of
education
Velisiwe Gasa and Sue du Plessis
STRUCTURE OF CHAPTER
-
Introduction
l ~
l Symbolic interactionism
Principles of the theory of symbolic
Key concepts interaction ism
Sociology Assumptions about the theory of
Education symbolic interactionism
Sociology of education The theory of symbolic interactionism
Functions of sociology of education and families
" - The theory of symbolic interaction ism
1 applied to society
Divisions within the theory of symbolic
Functionalism interaction ism
Durkheim, Parsons and functionalism
Assumptions about the theory of
-
f!
functionalism 1:
Critique of functionalism J
··~
Conflict theory
Marx, Weber, Mills and conflict theory
Conflict theory and families
Conflict theory applied to society
Assumptions about conflict theory
Propositions of the proponents of
conflict theory
Critique of conflict theory
l
, LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After you have worked through this chapter, you should be able to:
• discuss the nature and extent of the sociology of education paradigm and how ideolo-
gies are shaping global society
• analyse function?lism, conflict theory (Marxism) and symbolic interactionism criti-
cally as theoretical frameworks in the context of sociology of education
• consider how these three theoretical frameworks provide differentiated interpreta-
tions and are applied in the context of the family, school and society.
GLOSSARY
• assimilation
• assumption
• bourgeoisie
• class conflict
• deviance
• functionalism
• ideology
• Marxism (conflict theory)
• meritocracy
• patriarchy
• pragmatism
• proletariat
• school of thought
• social capital
• social class
• social conflict
• social consensus
• social control
• social order
• social patterns
• social structure
• solidarity
• symbolic interactionism
1 . 1 INTRODUCTION
All educational processes and the social development of all individuals are affected
by social institutions and the experiences of individuals within these institutions. This
describes the field of study of sociology of education. This field of specialisation can
be classified as a philosophical as well as a sociological concept, denoting ideologies,
curricula and pedagogical techniques of the inculcation and management of knowledge
as well as the social reproduction of personalities and cultures. It is concerned with
the relationships, activities and reactions of teachers and learners in the classroom. It
emphasises sociological problems in the realm of education (Hallinan, 2000: 65-84).
