Essentials of Sociology Fourth Edition

Chapter Thirteen Education & Religion

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Chapter Overview

Education in Global Perspective The Functionalist Perspective: Providing Social Benefits The Conflict Perspective: Reproducing the Social Class Structure The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Fulfilling Teacher Expectations Problems in U.S. EducationAnd Their Solutions

What is Religion The Functionalist Perspective The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective The Conflict Perspective Religion and the Spirit of Capitalism Types of Religious Groups Religion in the U.S. The Future of Religion
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Education

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Education in Global Perspective

**Credential societies employers use diplomas and degrees to determine who is eligible for a job. Diplomas serve as sorting devices.

Education is always related to a nations economy.

In Japan, education reflects their groupcentered ethic. In Russia, education is free and communist in nature. In Egypt, most children work the land and few attend school.
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The Functionalist Perspective

**Manifest functions - the positive things that people intend their actions to accomplish. **Latent functions - positive consequences not intended. In education, the manifest functions include teaching knowledge and skills, teaching values, and aiding in social integration. Latent functions include child care, sex education, and birth control

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Mainstreaming & Gatekeeping

**Mainstreaming- A new manifest function.Schools try to incorporate students with disabilities into regular school activities.

Gatekeepingdetermining which people will enter what occupations. Tracking - sorting students into different programs on the basis of real or perceived abilities.
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The Conflict Perspective

They see education as a tool used by the elite to maintain their dominance. Education reproduces the social class structure. Education also reproduces societys divisions of race-ethnicity. *Testing methods contain cultural biases Grade inflation and social promotions a U.S. educational problem.
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The Hidden Curriculum

Hidden curriculum - the unwritten rules of behavior and attitudes that schools teach in addition to formal curriculum. It perpetuates social inequalities.

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The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Labels can set people on courses of action that affect the rest of their lives. The Rist Research - demonstrated how the labels assigned by teachers end up acting as self-fulfilling prophecies. George Farkas - even though they had the same test scores, girls and Asians averaged higher course grades than boys and others.
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Problems in U.S. Education

Problems: Mediocrity Grade inflation Social promotion Functional illiteracy Violence in schools

Solutions: Safety Zero tolerance Higher standards

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Religion

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What is Religion?

Religion - beliefs and practices that separate the profane from the sacred and unite its adherents into a moral community. Church - any moral community centered on beliefs and practices regarding the sacred.
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The Functionalist Perspective

*Religion is universal because it meets basic human needs. Religion fosters social solidarity and provides answers to questions about the meaning of life. The teachings of religion help people adjust to lifes problems.
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The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

*They focus on the meanings that people give their experiences. All religions use symbols to provide identity and social solidarity for its members. A symbol is a condensed way of communicating. Rituals - ceremonies or repetitive practices.

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The Conflict Perspective

Conflict theorists are highly critical of religion. *By diverting thoughts to future happiness in a coming world, religion relieves one of suffering. *Religion legitimates the social inequalities of society.
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Religion and the Spirit of Capitalism

Weber stated that religion held the key to modernization the transformation of traditional societies into industrial societies.

The Protestant Ethic - the ideal of self-denying moral life accompanied by hard work and frugality. A change in religion led to the spirit of capitalism.
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Types of Religious Groups

A cult - a new or different religion whose teachings put it at odds with the dominant culture. A sect - larger than a cult. A church - a religious group highly bureaucratized that direct local congregations. Ecclesia - when government and religion work together to try to shape society. Copyright (c) 2002 by Allyn &
Bacon

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Religion in the United States

The proportion of Americans who belong to a church is now four times higher than when the country was founded.
On any given weekend, 2 of 5 Americans attend church.

Membership is highest in the South and Midwest. Church groups tend to appeal more to the successful, while sects appeal more toward the less successful.
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The Future of Religion

Religion will last as long as humanity lasts. Religion thrives in even the most scientifically advanced nations. Humans are inquiring creatures, and one of the questions people develop as they reflect on life is, What is the purpose of it all?
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