Critically compare and contrast two theories of Western schooling with respect to the following statement: Education acts as an agent for the reproduction of the social order and the preservation of status of the privileged in society.

Critically compare and contrast two theories of Western schooling with respect to the following statement: Education acts as an agent for the reproduction of the social order and the preservation of status of the privileged in society. The term 'school' has its origins in a Greek word meaning leisure or recreation. In pre- industrial societies, schooling was available only to the few who had enough time and money available to pursue to it (Giddens, 1989). However, education in its modern form, involves the instruction of pupils within specially constructed school premises (classrooms). Also, in advanced industrial societies education is provided by the state as a matter of right for all its citizens. The acquisition of knowledge has become increasingly based upon abstract learning rather than upon the mere transmission of specific skills from parents to their children. In a modern society people have to be equipped with basic skills such as reading, writing and calculating on top of having knowledge of their physical, social and economic environment (Gittler, 1957). Modern education has been studied immensely by various sociologists. There exist a number of theories on the nature of modern education. We will review, compare and contrast two such theories of modern schooling in this essay. The primary goal of an educational institution is the socialization of young

  • Word count: 2101
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Functionalist analysis of education

SOCIOLOGY: EDUCATION The functionalist argument that schools serve the interests of the individual and the society can be supported. That is, we are focusing on education in terms of the purposes served by this institution in relation to the overall social structure of society. Mainly Functionalist, theorists see the role of schools and education as being that of an institution charged with making people different educationally and selection of individuals into adult work-related roles. Durkheim's theoretical position was that the education system should be seen as an agency of secondary socialisation. As the family is an agency of primary socialisation (performing the initial socialising functions required to integrate children into their immediate culture), the education system is an institution that "broadens the individual's experience" of the social world. It prepares people for adult role relationships. One of the primary functions of the education system in an industrialised society is that of socialising people into instrumental relationships. These are relationships based upon what people can do for us in return for the things that we can do for them. Therefore education serves in the interest of the individual. In Durkheim's terms, people have to learn how to develop instrumental relationships and the education system effectively serves this kind of function.

  • Word count: 1255
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Comment on the suggestion that women gained “illusory progress” in the societies of Western Europe during the inter-war period?

20th Century European Economic and Social History Coursework Comment on the suggestion that women gained "illusory progress" in the societies of Western Europe during the inter-war period? In this essay I will clarify the meaning of illusory progress. Discuss the main arguments about the progress of women in Western European societies in the inter war years with respect to a large range of relevant sources. The main arguments are that women gained temporary progress after World War One (WW1) to help rebuild Western European economies which were left serious structural problems, for example a very large ship building industry. In order to do this women progressed in society, for example after WW1 women in Germany gained the vote. The main argument by historians is that this progress was temporary and was reversed with the depression, shown by Hitler removing the vote for women. Using the views of authors such as Bridenthal countered with opposing views from writers such as Stephenson to try and illuminate the major debates of this issue and then discuss them myself. The term Illusory Progress is advancement towards a higher social standing based on a deception. The concept of progress is multi dimensional making any answers a judgement on the importance of a large variety of sources. I will break progress into a judgement on opportunities at the time and the effect on

  • Word count: 1603
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Consortia and Revenue Streams: the case of shared professorial lines

Consortia and Revenue Streams: the case of shared professorial lines In order to stay competitive and attract good faculty and students, "there is an inevitable tradeoff between the administrators' efforts to moderate the rate of tuition increases faced by students and their efforts to provide generous salary increases for the faculty "(Ehrenberg Tuition Rising 113). The fiduciary responsibility of the administrators is to maintain a balanced budget while being creative in dealing with on-going budget cuts. A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education entitled "Whose Professor Is It, Anyway?" (10/22 2004, A 12) points at consortia as a possible solution in retaining professorial lines for small programs. My aim in this paper is to juxtapose the financial and structural advantages and disadvantages of joining a consortium. Consortia are a way for institutions to pool money and lower administrative burden and cost but they do not necessarily meet the interests and needs of the college and students. I will first look at a few consortia as examples and then give a closer look at the prospect of sharing faculty. Consortia have been in existence for some time with presently more than 125 Higher Education consortia in the United States proving its popularity and success. The Association for Consortium Leadership (ACL), founded 35 years ago, provides insight into the

  • Word count: 2196
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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May I Learn Too? Barriers Placed on Women in the Education System

May I Learn Too? Barriers Placed on Women in the Education System Name: Tavia Ferreira Student #: 203992377 Assignment: #2 Question: #1 ~ In relation to the works of Wollstonecraft Course Director: John Spencer Tutorial Leader: Tasha Henry Course: Education and Social Change Date: Thursday January 18, 2001 Throughout the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries, women have been placed at a disadvantage involving the issue of their education. The issues of what subject's women should and shouldn't be taught are often involved in heated debates present in today's time. Mary Wollstonecraft (1983), a woman's theorist during the turn of the 19th century was one of the major advocates in the battle for gender equity within the educational system. The construction and institutionalization of her theories of educating the young female mind in regards to intellect, physical activity, and preparedness for life in society after completion of formal education; have proved as a stepping stone in the fight to receive an equal education when compared to their male counterparts. Wollstonecraft's theory (1983) surrounding the benefits of segregated schooling amongst the sexes, became the basis and backbone of the construction of her theoretical concepts. Wollstonecraft believed that after nine years of age, young women should be put in "female only" schools, to further

  • Word count: 1089
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Western Society VS Eastern Society In After the First Death there was major antagonism between the two different societies, the western (American) and eastern (Arabic) societies.

*Essay Question 3* Western Society VS Eastern Society In After the First Death there was major antagonism between the two different societies, the western (American) and eastern (Arabic) societies. Among the eastern society in the novel, appropriate education, value for life and the individual were merely betrayed and violated, they simply did not exist. However, one thing that did exist very strongly was patriotism. The eastern societies are firm believers in patriotism and are powerful patriots. The western society too believed in patriotism, however not nearly as strongly as the easterners. Yet, they still comprised of the values of life and the individuals themselves. Both sides believed in patriotism in their own ways. Both showed love and devotion to one's country. This was what the major conflict was all about. They both conceived and believed that their ways of life were accurate and proper. Nevertheless, only one side in the end was going to win. 'Either you're a great patriot or a great fool'. (Page 192) This was a statement made by Artkin to the general, Ben's father. The general stated that he was both. A great fool for risking his son's life in order to save Inner Delta, and a great patriot because he was willing to loose his own son and to go all lengths merely to save Inner Delta. Education played an immense role in the way Miro and Artkin's society were

  • Word count: 574
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Shadowing Reflection

Shadowing Reflection Observing a student's day was a great experience. It enabled me to step outside of what I have been preparing for and into the life of this student. It was an interesting and informing experience. The day for the student had already begun when I arrived, but I jumped right into his regular routine. My day with Fred began when I entered his science class. He was sitting backwards in his seat talking while the teacher was in the process of beginning her class. The teacher started asking students to quiet down and start their daily routine. Some students immediately followed her directions, while others refused. Fred then loudly asked his fellow classmates if they could be quiet. The students eventually settled down. The students spent the day learning about their new research project and watching a video. Fred seemed to be restless. He kept turning, changing his position, and the location of his seat. During transitions Fred and one of his classmates could be seen signing and mimicking various singers and the dances associated with the music video. Fred was redirected by the teacher and immediately did what was asked of him. Five minutes before the end of the class he started to pack up as if the instructor had officially ended the class. However, a few minutes later they were given cue to do just that. During this time they were suppose to

  • Word count: 1235
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Why have women been the preferred labour force by the multinational corporations operating in export-oriented industries producing garments, electronics and toys in the "Third World"?

Sarah Pinsonneault - 101598947 53-260-01 Women in the Global Economy Mid-term Exam Due: February 18, 2004 Section 1 - Question 1 Why have women been the preferred labour force by the multinational corporations operating in export-oriented industries producing garments, electronics and toys in the "Third World"? There are many reasons why women are the preferred labour force by the multinational corporations operating in the export oriented industries. In industries such as textiles, clothing, and electronics, stereotypes of women being cheap labour, docile, flexible and having nimble fingers allows the multinational corporations to devalue the work of women into low-paying and menial positions. One social system that describes the gender differences in the third world is the concept of social stratification, which exists in most societies, and distinguishes between individuals and/or groups according to their socially defined attributes, and gives them different statuses according to these attributes. This type of discrimination is especially predominant in the less developed countries. Throughout the world, businesses exploit women workers by labeling some jobs as "women's work", and then assigning them lower wages because women perform them. Women are therefore paid a lot less, not for the type of work they do, but because they are women. Multinational

  • Word count: 1030
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Compare and Contrast the NW (Amazonia) and the SE (Sao Paulo District) of Brazil

Katie Hince 9x2 Geography Essay 15/6/04 Compare and Contrast the NW (Amazonia) and the SE (Sao Paulo District) of Brazil In this essay I intend to compare and contrast the region of North West Brazil to South East Brazil. The purpose of this essay is to see if dependent on which area of Brazil you are situated in reflects on the education, health care etc. you are provided with / can receive. The location of Brazil is that of which Brazil occupies almost one half of the entire South American continents, and is the fifth largest countries in the world. It borders all Latin American countries except Chile and Ecuador. Brazil also occupies 7,491km coastline and the 50,000km navigable inland waterways. Brazil has many large cities the top 6 most populated are Sau Paulo, Rio Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia in that order. The main city of North West Brazil and that is the country that I will mainly focus on and the main cities of south east Brazil are Rio Janeiro and Sau Paulo and they are the cities I will focus on for the south east part of this essay. Brazil is a republic. In a republic, the people vote for members of the government. Brazil's government is made up of three different parts, or branches. These three parts are called the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch is made up of the president, vice president and the

  • Word count: 903
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Causes of Poverty In Sierra Leone

CAUSES OF POVERTY IN SIERRA LEONE * Civil War of 11 years * Bad governance * There isn't a sustainable peace - it is threatened even now due to UN's focus switching to the neighbouring countries Guinea and Liberia * Weak national security * There is very less government spending for social services and purposes. Lack of education, health services * Too little provison of job opportunities * No investments in the productive sector (agriculture, mining, fishing) * Climatic conditions (sand storms, dust storms) * The maluse of natural resources - They haven't taken advantage of their resources * Bad health care has opened the way for contageous, infectious diseases - this causes a decrease in the quality of living, whcih is linked to a decrease in the quality ow working due to illnesses * High population growth - no migrants; refugees are returning as well Average years of schooling of adults: 2.4 (2000) Duration of education - primary level: 6 (1998-2002) Duration of education - secondary level: 6 (1998-2002) Education spending: 0.9% (1989) Enrolment ratio - secondary level: 26.5 (2000) Grade 1 intake rate: 80.2 (1998-2002) Library books: 20,000 (1999) (per capita): 3.48 per 1000 people Library employees: 5 (1999) (per capita): 0.00 per 1000 people Library members: 0,000 (1999) (per capita): .74 per 1000 people Literacy - Definition: age 15

  • Word count: 282
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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