Starter

STARTER Think about how education has been

useful (or not) to you. Now think about how education is

useful to society as a whole. 2 minutes discussion with partner.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION?

Understanding the ideologies that underlie educational thinking

EDUCATION Formal education – takes place in school or

colleges. There is a curriculum and formal assessment of learning

Informal education – takes place in clubs or non-assessed situations

Non-formal education – learning that takes place in the home or a domestic situation.

Provide an example of each type of education

SOCIOLOGICAL TARGETS To know some of the reasons why the

school system is important to the running of our society.

To understand that there are a variety of ideologies underlying the development of the education system.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION?

Education

Socialisation of

children

Control of children

and young people

Protection of young people

from exploitation by

employers

Passing on of key

knowledge and culture

Training children for

future employment

Education is a route to

social success

NB: Some of these points can be seen as negative for children as well as positive

SOCIALISATION OF CHILDREN Socialisation is the process of learning the

rules and knowledge valued by a culture. One of the most important agencies of

secondary socialisation is the education system.

It is known as an agency of formal socialisation, because schools and education systems deliberately set out to influence people's behaviour.

THINKING FOR YOURSELF

How do schools set out to control your behaviour and pass on norms and values? Think of two ways in which you are taught your cultural values.

Further thinking: In what ways do the values of the school clash with the personal values of your home and family?

IMPORTANT RESEARCH STUDY Hargreaves 1967 Investigated the teaching of cultural

norms and values in schools Used qualitative classroom observation Concluded school did not succeed at

teaching social solidarity but rather encouraged the development of ‘sub-cultures’

How can we evaluate this study ?

CONTROL OF CHILDREN’S MINDS Schools exist to control behaviour. Children are

taught to obey authority and respect rules. Jackson said that if they are to succeed, pupils do

not just require knowledge, but also conformity to the socially acceptable behaviour of the school.

Pat McNeil (1986) says that this includes knowledge such as how to get on with teachers and other pupils, how to cope with boredom and how to conform.

This hidden control is known as the Hidden Curriculum.

IDENTIFY THE SEXISM IN THISMummy has taken the children to a fire station. Topsy and Kerry are girls and Tim is a boy. When they came down from the ladder Mummy bought them each a little fire-fighter's helmet. 'I'm going to be a fire-fighter when I grow up' said Kerry. 'Can girls be fire-fighters?' asked Topsy. 'I don't think so' said Tim. 'Yes they can!' said the lady who was selling the toy helmets. 'I'm a fire-fighter, just like Kerry's Dad. Women can be fire-fighters, but they have to be as strong and as brave as the men.' To show how strong she was, she gave Tim a fireman's lift.

CHILDREN’S READINGMummy has taken the children to a fire station. Topsy and Kerry are girls and Tim is a boy. When they came down from the ladder Mummy bought them each a little fire-fighter's helmet. 'I'm going to be a fire-fighter when I grow up' said Kerry. 'Can girls be fire-fighters?' asked Topsy. 'I don't think so' said Tim. 'Yes they can!' said the lady who was selling the toy helmets. 'I'm a fire-fighter, just like Kerry's Dad. Women can be fire-fighters, but they have to be as strong and as brave as the men.' To show how strong she was, she gave Tim a fireman's lift.

PROTECTING CHILDREN The first government Act imposing

compulsory education in Britain was in 1880 and then partly it was designed to end child labour in factories and only affected children aged 5 - 10.

It also served the purpose of providing a trained workforce who could operate new machines and technology.

Victorian coal miners

‘VOCATIONALISM’ In the 1970s, James Callaghan, a Labour Prime Minister

made a famous speech in Ruskin College, Oxford, where he said that Britain was falling behind its industrial competitors because the education system failed to produce skilled and motivated workers.

This has affected government policy and thinking for over 30 years. It influenced many of the changes made by the Conservative governments of 19879 -1997. It formed the basis of National Curriculum.

There is still a strong vocational agenda in British schools and colleges that involves examinations, key skills and portfolio approaches to learning.

TRAINING CHILDREN FOR WORK Pierre Bourdieu (1930 –

2002) Marxist critic of

education system Uses idea of cultural

capital Schools exist to

advantage the children of the middle classes so they go on to take the best and most interesting jobs

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS Learning is when people seek knowledge. Education is when knowledge is provided for

people. Schools exist to

Protect children from exploition Teach children cultural values Train children for the work they will do in adult life Socialise children to become acceptable adults Control children

Depending on your perspective, some of these characteristics of the education system can be seen as positive, and others as negative.

ASSESSMENT MIX AND MATCHVocationalism is Of acquiring a skill or knowledge

Learning is the process Skills from people around us as we live our lives

Formal education systems are where Is the highly valued knowledge of our culture

Informal education is when we learn Refers to the values that a school teaches without necessarily intending to.

Socialisation is the process of learning A route to high pay jobs and social mobility

If pupils are to succeed in school, They need to learn to conform to the rules of the school

The hidden curriculum Pass on gender roles through books and school organisation

Feminists say that schools People are taught specific skills and then tested in their knowledge and understanding

Cultural capital The preparation of students for the world of work

In Wales , education was seen as The rules and knowledge valued by a culture

ASSESSMENT ANSWERSLearning is the process Of acquiring a skill or knowledgeFormal education systems are where People are taught specific skills and then tested in

their knowledge and understanding

Informal education is when we learn Skills from people around us as we live our lives

Socialisation is the process of learning The rules and knowledge valued by a culture

If pupils are to succeed in school, They need to learn to conform to the rules of the school

The hidden curriculum Refers to the values that a school teaches without necessarily intending to.

Feminists say that schools Pass on gender roles through books and school organisation

Cultural capital Is the highly valued knowledge of our culture

Vocationalism is The preparation of students for the world of work

In Wales , education was seen as A route to high pay jobs and social mobility

INDEPENDENT STUDY/EXTENSIONDiscuss with as many people as you can

the answer to this question:

Is it the role of schools to correct the problems of society?