Sociological Theories on Education

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| Sociological Theories on Education | Final Paper | Lenita WhitedSOC101: Introduction to Sociology Instructor Kathleen Marker | 8/17/2012 | | | Nelson Mandela once said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (Goodreads, 2012). He was right in the sense that people everywhere and everyday learn new things that help them change the world and how to do things. Even though education maintains social inequality, students are taught morals, values, and ethics by observing symbols and interactions all around them. Functionalist theorists believe that education teaches kids the morals, values, and ethics of society. Education teaches “the importance of following directions, meeting schedules and deadlines, teamwork, getting along with others, creativity and innovation, and obeying authority in a merit-based system of performance and success” (Vissing, 2011). Students who go to school, from a very young age until they graduate, are taught what is right from wrong, what is good or bad, and how to treat others around them. This helps maintain a good society and prepares the kids for the future. It is also said that education helps with “social control or the regulation of deviant behavior” (Crossman, 2012). Kids who are in school during the day are taught to behave right and stay out of trouble and off of the streets. This, also, helps parents who work during the day to know where their kids are, which in turn makes a better and safer society. Functionalists “reinforce behaviors that support the political and economic systems, including patriotism, a work ethic, and teaching students how to perform tasks essential for jobs” (Vissing, 2011). Kids are taught about their countries and how things are run, plus they get “occupational training” for their future jobs (Crossman, 2012). This prepares the kids for when

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