Meaning of education
The word
education is derived from various Latin words such as ‘Educatum’ which means to
train or act of teaching, ‘Educare’ means to bring up, to raise, to educate and
‘Educere’ means to lead out, to draw out. Therefore, education is to give the
information of various knowledge and moral values and norms to the students as
well as to drawing out the internal talent and creativity of the students.
Eucation is not limited on writing, reading and recurring. Education is the
result of behaviors of whole life of a person.
Various persons
have defined education in their own way,
* According to
John Deway, “Education is not preparation for life, it is life itself”.
* Pestalozzi
says, “Education is natural, harmonious and progressive development of man’s
innate power”.
* T.P. Nunn
says, “Education is complete development of the individuality of the child so
that he can make an original contribution of human life according to the best
of his capacity”.
* Education is
the development in the individual of all the perfection of which he is capable,
says Komte.
* Education
is the development of whole man. - Comenius.
* Education
means bringing out of the ideas of universal validity, which are latent in the
mind of everybody. – Socrates.
What is sociology?
Sociology is an
academic discipline. It focuses on our social world and sociology begins with
the idea that humans are to be understood in the context of their social life,
that we are social animals influenced by interaction, social patterns, and
socialization. Sociology asks three questions as
1. What are we anyway?
Emile Durkheim
says human begins are socialized into society and society gets into our very
being. We take on society’s rules, its morals, its truths, and its values. In a
sense, the individual becomes society.
2. What holds society together? What are humans able
to cooperate?
Order is
developed through the social patterns. We establish through the rules, truths,
and structure we create. Order is maintained through families, media, schools,
political leaders and religion. Traditional sociology states that the five
major social patterns that maintain order are religion, politics, education,
economics and family.
3. Why is there inequality in society and what are its
consequences? How does it arise? What are the problems it brings, and how does
it affect the individual?
Karl Marx saw
inequality inherent in all class societies and Max Weber saw inequality
inherent in the nature of lasting organization. All sociologists see inequality
as a source of social change.
Sociology focuses on five topics.
Some sociologists focus on society. Sociology to them is the “society”. Society
is that very large and abstract entity in which humans exist. Those who focus
on society are sometimes called Macro sociologists.
Social
organization
A second focus
or topic area is Social organization. Sociology
is the study of all social organization, from the largest unit- society- to the
pair of interacting individuals.
Institutions or institutional
systems
Some
sociologists specialize in the family, some in schools, and others in
government. There are, for instance, sociologists of law, criminal justice,
health, religion and military. Specialization has created experts who
understand a certain part of society as well as its relationship to the whole
of society.
Macro world of
face-to-face interaction
Many
sociologists are interested in the Macro
world of face-to-face interaction, how individuals act in relation to one
another in everyday life. There is interest here in how individuals in social
interaction shape organization, share a view of the world, influence one
another, and are socialized.
Social problems
Finally, there
is an emphasis among some sociologists on social problems, a concern about
understanding poverty, family disorganization, child abuse, sexism, and racism
and careless misuses of the environment among other things.
Sociology may be
defined as a perspective and an academic discipline that examines the human
being as a social being, who is a product of social interaction, and social
patterns. Sociology tries to concern itself with the nature of the human being,
the meaning and basis of social order and the causes and social inequality of
social inequality. It focuses on society, social organization, social
institutions, social interaction, and social problems. It is a scientific
discipline. The purpose of science is to understand the universe in a careful,
discipline manner. Proof is the requirement for accepting ideas in science, and
proof must be empirical. Science is an attempt to generalize and it is an
attempt to explain events.
Sociology originated within the society. Its form and structure are
determined by social form and structure. With the consideration of social
development, its need and demand, sociology is developed as a separate discipline.
Auguste Comte, French, is a father of Sociology who used the word
‘Sociology’ in his lectures during 1837/38 for 1st time. He used the
word ‘Sociology’ to designate the application of the scientific method to the
study of human nature and society. Herbert Spencer wrote a book “Principles of
Sociology” in 1876 whereas Duncan wrote “Background of Sociology” and made
sociology a scientific study. Sociology is the science or study of society. The
word ‘socius’ means society and ‘Logos’ means Study.
Various thinkers have defined
sociology in various ways. Some of the thinker’s definitions are given as,
Sociology as the
science of society- Comte, Ward, Blackmar, Gilonin and Giddings.
Sociology as the
study of social relationship- Mac iver, Page, Abel etc.
Sociology as the
study of human behaviour in groups- Kimball Young and his followers.
Sociology as the
study of the different forms of human interrelations-Marx Weber, Von Weise,
Vier Kanet, Ross, etc.
Sociology as the
study of social structure and social phenomenon- Sorokin, Green, Benet and
Tumain.
Sociology is the
general science of society. It is concerned with social institutions such as
class structure, family, kinship, law, religion and so forth.- Morrish
Educational sociology and sociology of education
Before 1960, educational
sociology and sociology of education were used for the same meaning. But after
1960 people realized that they have different meanings. Now a days sociology of
education is more appropriately or widely used rather than educational
sociology as it covers broad areas of sociology. R.J. Stalcup has defined both
the terms in the book “Sociology of Education” as Educational Sociology.
The application of general principles and findings to sociology to
the administration and/ or processes of education. This approach attempts to
apply principles of sociology to the institution of education as a separate
social unit.
Sociology of
education
An analysis of
the sociological process involved in the educational institution. This area of
study evolved out of the field of educational sociology and emphasis the study
within the institution of education. The problems of educational sociology are
derived from the field of education whereas the problems of sociology of
education are derived from the field of sociology.
Different scholars have defined
sociology of education in various ways which are given below:-
According to
Hasen, “The sociology of education is concerned with the relationship between
education and society”.
W.B. Brookover
said, “The sociology of education is the scientific study of the analysis of
the social processes and social patterns involved in the educational system”.
According to
P.W. Musgrave, “In the sociology of education, a study is made of relationship
between education and society as a whole”.
“Educational
sociology is the science which studies the interaction of the individual and
his cultural environment and social groups”, says Brown.
Ottaway said,
“The educational sociology is an activity, which goes on in society and its
aims and methods depend on the nature of the society which it takes place.”
Difference
between educational sociology and sociology of education
Educational sociology
|
Sociology of
education
|
1. This
approach attempts to apply principles of sociology to the institutions of
education as separate societal units.
2. It
emphasizes on education and societal problems.
3. A practical
field of study concerned with both sociological and socio-psychological
types, which have relevance for or logical connections with problems of
educational practice.
4. It is
concerned with the most recent problems of education.
5. Problems of
educational sociology are derived from the field of education.
6. It is
applied form of sociology.
7. Its field
is educational institutions.
8. This is the
area of educationists, education activists and educators.
9. Its
functions are synthesis.
|
1. This area of study evolved out of the field of
educational sociology and emphasizes sociological study within the
institution of education.
2. It emphasizes on sociological problems.
3. The primary
concern is to investigate sociological aspects of educational phenomena and
institutions and the problems examined are regarded as essentially problems
of sociology not of educational practice.
4. It explains
the school based on tradition and the problems occur from a very long time.
5. Problems of
sociology of education are derived from the field of sociology.
6. It is distinct
from of sociology.
7. Its field
is society.
8. This is the
area of sociologists.
9. Its
functions are analytical.
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The contents and
scope of Educational sociology
Relation between
school and society
Social position
of teacher
Relation among
the teacher, students, school and parents
Relation of
School with different social institutions, and community
Interaction
between individual and society
Development of
curriculum, instructional objectives, teaching methods according to the need of
individual and society
Interaction,
control and feedback to the different subjects
Educational
objectives, teaching methods and all the activities of school
Broadly scope of educational sociology is divided into
three categories:-
Social aspects
Educational
aspect
Functional or
application aspect
Field of
Educational Sociology
Although not much research work has
been done on this branch, yet all sociologists agree that there are great
possibilities for sociological studies in the field of education. Merton and Hugo
say, “If the process of socialization in medicine is to be understood, it is
necessary to make a sociological analysis of culture and relationships in
medical colleges”.
Neil Gross
thinks that the field of educational sociology comprehends the following three
kinds of research:
Social structure
and functions of school
classroom as a
form of social profession and
education as
career or profession
Educational
sociology makes study of relationship between education and the social
organization, between the school on one side and the community and the home on
the other, between education and the means of transport and communication,
between education and the democratic or totalitarian states. It makes a study of such varied problems as
the status and functions of teachers, the organization of educands,
relationship between religion and education, the organization of educational
institutions, and freedom of thought in higher education etc.
It is a practical science and by
virtue of its practically it gives suggestions concerning the reform of
education.
Meaning of society
A man forms a
society. A group of persons alone cannot be called a society. For a society it
is necessary that its members feel a sense of unity and mutual relationship.
There is no limit to the dimension of a society. Within its size, there may be
several small units and a certain person may be a number of several societies.
Within a big society, there may be several small units and a certain person may
be a number of several societies.
In the world society, there are
several nations, within a nation, there are several provinces, in provinces
there are many cities and districts, in district several villages, in cities
and villages there are several associations, committees and many other social
units. A society has its own ideals. Members consider their duty to safeguard them.
The purpose of a society is quite comprehensive and permanent. It includes all
the aspects of individuals’ life.
Various scholars
have defined society in the following ways:-
According to
A.K.C. Ottaway, “A society is a kind or part of community which members have
become conscious of their modes of life and are united by a common set of aims
and values”.
F.H. Giddings
said, “Society is the union itself’ the organization, the sum of formal
relationship, in which the associating individuals are bound together.”
According to F.G.
Wright, “It is not a group of people; it is the system of relationship that
exists between the individual of group”.
Relations between Education and Society
Education is
both a world in itself and a reflection of the world at large. Education helps
society to mobilize its productive energies by insuring that required human
resources are developed. The changing nature of society always demands the
renewal of education. Education has contributed to the destiny of societies in
all phases of their development. The modification in the method and curriculum
of education is the product of changed social situation. The shape of the world
depends largely on quality of education the coming generation obtain. Everybody
needs education for democratic values, education for social change, and
education for inter-group competence.
Relationship between school and society
Schools are
considered as a subsystem of society. Schools are the place of formal
education. They are established by the society. Society looks after the schools
and protects them. Society is one of the most influencing factors for the
determination of curriculum for school. Society establishes and protects school
with following purpose:-
Preservation of culture
Culture is a set
of behavior of a society determined through a long experience of past
generations. This behavior determines the lifestyle of the society and it
determines their clothing, food, language, belief, systems, values, customs
etc. Since all these knowledge are developed through a long endeavor of past
generation and they are needed for the welfare of future generation, every
society wants to preserve this set of knowledge. Society uses schools for the
preservation of their culture, which is in the form of the set of knowledge
accepted by a society for its welfare.
Transmission of culture
Society does not
only want to preserve the culture; it also wants to transmit it safely and
without any loss to the future generation. Since culture is a body of tested
knowledge in a long course of time, the society wants that the future
generation to follow it for its own welfare. It uses schools to handover this
treasure of knowledge to the forthcoming generation.
Socialization of young
Socialization is
the process of modifying the behavior of an individual according to social
norms. Society prepares a code of conduct for its citizen. It classifies the behavior
of individual as acceptable and unacceptable conduct. It wants to develop
acceptable mode of conduct in an individual. Society uses school as its
subsystem for the socialization of young according to the societal norm.
Creation of knowledge
No society wants
to live in status quo. It always wants to progress its life standard and the
life standard of people residing in a society. Creation of new knowledge can
make the life of people more comfortable. It can progress life standard of the
people. Education can create new knowledge, which can make the life of people
more comfortable. Society uses schools as an institution for the creation of
new knowledge.
Preparation of human resources
Society needs
different types of manpower to play different roles in society. Any society can
be developed only through the proper utilization of natural resources there.
Only the efficient manpower in society can manipulate the natural resources of
a place. Society used education for the objective of human resource
development.
Value of the Sociology of education
Sociology of
education stresses on professional or vocational education and stresses on
earning livelihood through relevant education. It opposes the individualism. It
stresses on importance of society, as against the individual and gives
importance on social progress and aim of education.. It focuses on social
welfare and children are trained to make them responsible citizen. It has great
faith in Democracy. Education is based on the cooperation the state and the
society, success of democracy depends upon the education of its members.
Sociology of education gives the
clarification of social problems. Sociological tendency clarifies social
problems and suggest ways and means of solving them, raising the standards of
social life. It emphasizes on the children’s comprehensive development and
train individuals to fulfill their social responsibilities. Importance of
social science is given priority so that the children can understand social
phenomenon and problems and make positive contribution to the society.
Social life within the schools is given
importance, formation of committees that trains the child for later life.
Education is treated as an agency of social progress. Best means of social
control and social change; social control becomes measure of self-control
through education because education socializes the individual.
Causes of
evolution of sociological tendency
The word of
sociology of education developed in the beginning in the writings of August
Comte in 1838. He aimed at applying
sociological concept and understanding to the problems of education and this
encouraged to the development of the sociological tendency in education.
French
Revolution also influenced evolution of sociological tendency. Therefore, it
brought the ideals of Liberty, equality and fraternity to the front, which were
later accepted as the objectives of education for social welfare. Because of
the principles of equality, education for everyone became compulsory.
The industrial
and professional revolution drew the attention of the people to the labor class
and it was found that education was necessary for it. Social consciousness also
emerged in various classes as people try to educate their children so that they
could have good position in the society. Therefore, they understood the social
objective of education. From the earliest times, individual ideas have always
been accompanied by social or collective ideals in every part of the world.
Moreover, these ideals were stressed the importance of social objectives.
Then later came wave of democracy, which influenced society. In
modern democratic societies, the social and political education of the masses
came to be regarded as compulsory because it is the people who elect
representatives from the government. Hence, it became the aim of education to
turn every individual into a useful citizen of a democratic state.
Influence of Sociology in Education
Meaning of Education:
Sociologists
stress the social aspects of education and socialization of children.
Objectives of education:
For sociologists,
objective or aim of education is to develop social qualities and social feeling
in children; enable to understand their responsibility in society and nation.
Function of education:
According to
Munro’s, there are four functions. They are:
Spread of knowledge.
Social control,
Protection of social heritage,
Social development.
Organization of
curriculum:
Curriculum based
on social ideals and values; regular reviews of curricula based on the needs;
prepare individual to serve society and family; importance on scientific and
professional subjects; flexible to accommodate social changes and needs.
Methods of
teaching:
Stress on
inclusion of social elements in methods so social qualities are evolved.
Administrative techniques:
It stresses on
social or social or collectives create atmosphere for collective involvement
and efforts, social discipline naturally merge in education. There is adult
education movement. “No individual in society should be uneducated.” It focuses
on evening and morning schools, distance education, open learning, Non- formal
education schemes.Also, stresses in social education. Social educations of the
individual implies an education, which acquaints individuals with every aspect
of his her environment, and train them to be responsible citizen. It is the
responsibility of the state to provide education.
Comte’s Social Laws:
Auguste Comte’s
law of three stages of the development of knowledge into science is an obvious
outcome of the Newtonian nation. It states that each particular knowledge
developed through three stages:
The Theocratic
stage
The Metaphysical stage and The positive stage.
Comte believed
that there is a hierarchy of sciences and based on the historical sequence of
areas of knowledge passing through these stages in order of difficulty. The
simplest and most remote becomes scientific first. The more complex knowledge
areas, those considered closet to social knowledge become scientific last. The
sciences according to Comte’s “law” developed in the following order: Mathematics;
Astronomy; Physics; Chemistry: Biology; Psychology; Sociology.
August Comte’s
Social Physics Thesis: The Contribution of Social Science.
The theories of
social science are still even in the minds of the best thinkers, completely
implicated with the theological- metaphysical philosophy and are even supposed
to be by a fatal separation from all other science condemned to remain so
involved forever.” The formation of social science would not have been possible
in ancient times- we are in a condition precisely coincident with the
scientific so as to establish social science on a positive basis
The method of Positivist Social Science
The positivist
method of production of social knowledge was the 17th century
scientific analysis adapted with emphasis on the following:
a. the particular rather than the
general,
b.
observable facts rather than
principles and
c.
experience rather than rational
speculation.
