Education Culture and Functionalism

Education and Culture

• Education encompasses both material culture (classrooms, textbooks, educational technology) and non-material culture (teaching methods).
• The emphasis on education indicates the societal value placed on educating members.
• If education consists solely of guidelines without supporting structures, it reflects a lower societal value on education.

Functionalists vs Conflict Theorists

• Functionalists see cultural categories as serving multiple functions, enhancing social cohesion and camaraderie.
• Conflict theorists view social structures as unequal, highlighting power differentials such as class, gender, race, and age.
• Established educational methods may reinforce the dominant culture and privilege, excluding historical narratives of marginalized groups.

Historical Omission in Education

• U.S. history education has historically omitted significant events, like the colonization impacts on Native Americans.
• Events like the Tulsa Massacre, largely neglected in historical narratives, gained recognition through media portrayals, surprising many who were unaware.
• In North Korea, education focuses on positive portrayals of leadership, omitting severe realities faced by the populace.

Cultural Norms

• Norms dictate expected behaviors in various situations, defining what is culturally acceptable as either formal or informal.
• Formal norms are established rules (laws, employee manuals) while informal norms reflect social expectations.
• Mores represent moral norms that can have serious repercussions if violated, often supported by legal structures.
• Folkways are cultural traditions guiding everyday behavior, lacking moral implications.

Material vs Non-material Culture

• Material culture includes physical items associated with education (school buildings), while non-material culture represents educational methods and standards.
• Interaction with different cultures enhances awareness of similarities and differences, facilitated by the sociological imagination.

Cultural Universals

• Cultural universals are traits or patterns common across all societies, such as family structures, which regulate reproduction and child care.
• Definitions and functions of the family differ globally; for instance, many Asian cultures practice extended family living, while U.S. culture promotes independent living before forming nuclear families.
• Other cultural universals include customs surrounding funerals, weddings, and childbirth celebrations, each varying in practice across cultures.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

• Despite shared human traits, cultural differences dominate, notably in conversational etiquette and language usage.