Theories

Chapter 2 – Theories of Schooling and Society (same source as first entry)

Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and The Chicago School are the first theorists and school of theorists discussed. Marx had strong political ideas, and he ‘believed that the economic organization of a society is central to its class structure, institutions, cultural values, and beliefs’ (32) among other things. Weber was interested in explaining the rise of capitalism, but also wanted to ‘discover a causal explanation for social action’ (33). Durkheim studied social order and he did an analysis of social integration, social control, ritual and the moral base underlying society. The Chicago School developed perspectives of symbolic interactionism and interpretive phenomenological theory.

Next discussed are theories of schooling and society, which include functionalism, conflict or Neo-Marxist theories, critical theory, feminist theory, and anti-racist theory. Functionalism focuses on the analysis of social and cultural systems, which carry certain functions, and how these functions maintain social order. Conflict or Neo-Marxist has an emphasis on conflict and social change. Critical suggests ways that the educational system can address social inequality and generate social change. Feminist focuses on causes of oppression based on class, race, and gender. Anti-racist focuses on an action oriented, educational, and political strategy for systemic change in society’s institutions. (All information found on pg. 49).

In all honesty I struggled to read through this chapter. Theories are what bored me extremely in intro sociology, which is probably why I never took another sociology class. My brain doesn’t grasp them nor do I think much of what people came up with however many years ago. I care about the effects they have on today’s society and in this case their role in education. However I would rather just be told about what’s going on today and not have to study theories that don’t interest me. Therefore I have no opinion about this and don’t really know what to say. I’m hoping some of the sociology majors out there are blogging and will have opinions about this therefore I can comment on what they say and hopefully better understand what all of these theories mean for us as educators.