Schooling Lecture 3 PDF

Foundations of Education Lecture 3: Schooling Assoc. Prof. Dr. Souad Merah Faculty of Education and Arts, Sohar University  Why Schooling? Schooling and education in general are not meant to prepare people for jobs only. We don’t need 12 years or more to gain certa...

Foundations of Education Lecture 3: Schooling Assoc. Prof. Dr. Souad Merah Faculty of Education and Arts, Sohar University  Why Schooling? Schooling and education in general are not meant to prepare people for jobs only. We don’t need 12 years or more to gain certain skills for certain jobs. The school prepares children to become members of society. Therefore Education in the 21ˢᵗ century is balanced and integrative “The key role of education in the initiation of young people into identity or person constitutive aspects of the best of human culture.” (Carr, D. 2003) To teach values and to instigate a sense of public duty or responsibility to one’s community. In Aims of Schooling in the 21ˢᵗ Century Giving pupils the knowledge and abilities they need to thrive in the modern world while also fostering their confidence in their ability to use those abilities is the goal of education in the twenty-first century. With so much information at their fingertips, 21ˢᵗ-century skills are more focused on making sense of it, Aims of Schooling in the 21ˢᵗ Century Today, education is a child's first step in life, where he or she learns a lot more than merely memorizing facts. One of the many things a school gives a child is the ability to develop and refine their interests. (what do they like to learn and what do they want to become) Other things include learning basic etiquette, getting skilled at multi-tasking, and enhancing their social skills. Summary of the Reasons that Make the School Important. 1. School facilitates learning 2. School provides opportunity to the poor and disadvantaged 3. School teaches personal responsibility 4. Students develop reading and writing skills 5. School opens up career options 6. Helps students develop a sense of self 7. School prepares students for the future 8. School teaches critical thinking and problem solving Summary of the Reasons that Make the School Important. 9. School teaches collaboration 10. A functioning education system benefits the economy 11. School instils a sense of cultural and national identity 12. School exposes children to a diversity of views 13. Teaches conflict management skills 14. It leads to higher average incomes 15. It helps build social capital  The Functionalist View It is largely based on the ideas of Herbert Spencer(1820-1903) , Emile Durkheim(1858-1917), Talcott Parsons (1902-1979), and Robert Merton (1910- 2003).It rallies around the fundamental idea that an organism exists and will continue to exist because of the correlated and harmonious work or functions performed by its different parts. “According to functionalism, society is a system of interconnected parts that work  Functionalist’s views Socialization: “ Is a process of teaching and learning , where the family, the culture , the society and the other social institutions combine to be the teacher and where all members of the society are the learners”(Richard D. Van Scotter Social Foundations of Education.1979 pg.106) Cultural transmission “The most obvious goal of education is cultural Social skills(working in a group, the capacity to work with superior authority, communication. Innovation Child care as a necessity Postponing Job hunting  The Conflict Theory The Conflict Paradigm: is based on the fundamental ideas of the Marxist theory and offers a radical alternative to functionalism. It became increasingly influential in sociology during the 1970s, partly because of the decline of functionalism. It is founded on the ideas of Karl Marx (1818-1883) the German- born philosopher, economist, political theorist, and Sociologist. Conflict and social classes are the main topics analysed by this paradigm.  Conflict views According to this theory ; Society is an arena for conflict not for co-operation. ”Conflict theorists assert that we live in a divided and conflict ridden society where groups compete for the control of the educational system.”(Christopher J. Hurn. The limits and possibilities of schooling1985. pg.63) Social institutions become the instruments by which those in power control those with less power. The educational sector with all its institutions Unequal access to education Reinforcing class inequality. “Bowles and Gintis’s major argument is that the educational system reinforce class inequalities in contemporary society. Different social classes in the United States usually attend different neighborhood schools.”(Hurn. 1985. pg. 65) School dropout is higher for racial, ethnic and language minorities, higher for people Modernism, Postmodernism & Education The word modern means “up to date”. The age which began in the 18ᵗʰ century brought the concepts of mind's dominance and modernism on the agenda, thus it has lead that this age and the following ages to be considered as modern ages.  Main Characteristics The main facts (concepts) that has defined modernism or modern ages are; Rationalism,(to replace theology) Logic, Scientific rights, Systematic way of thinking.  Post modernism View Sociologists define current social stage as 'post modern society and communication type as 'computer / visual media'. (Hespcioglu, ,1998:97) As a philosophy, postmodernism rejects concepts of rationality, objectivity, and universal truth. Instead, it emphasizes the diversity of human experience and multiplicity of perspectives. Education in the Postmodern Age Technology development and education ICT and Education Shift from “What to know” to “How to Know” Narrative knowledge that enable us to interpret the world in many ways. On the other hand, as the most important communicative facts of postmodern society are computer and visual media, learning process becomes independent. From knowledge centred teaching methods to a state in which to be composed of less information but a variety of ways of learning (such as imaginary teaching ,creativity and innovation) Autonomous schools of postmodern society will have more authority to decide Moreover classification of men and women will be meaningless. No education based on the role of gender at schools. In the schools of postmodern society relationships based on ranks will not be determinant; leadership of the managers, group and organization dynamism will be more important; productivity and innovations will be the aim. Globalization Labour market and education Knowledge-based economies and their impact on the school curriculum and its priorities. Flexibility of the curriculum Importance of languages In conclusion the main aim of this era’s education is not to depend on a single right, single type of discourse but to create pluralist, participating education.  Conclusion A question to think about Do you feel that the current way children are being educated fully prepares them for the needs of the 21st century?