[PDF] Sociological Foundation of Education

What is educational sociology?

EDUCATIONAL sociology is not primarily a sociological study of educational institutions and processes. It should be primarily sociol- ogy, and not education. It is sociology applied to the whole problem of education, just as educational psychology is psychology applied to the problem of education. There is, however, this difference.

What is the relevance of sociology to teaching?

There could be several dimensions to this but the greatest relevance of sociology to teaching lies in the notion that teachers are to some extent applied social scientists. They apply some version, even if only folklore types, of psychology, economics and sociology, as well as philosophy and history, to the task of teaching.

Do educational systems reflect the socio-economic structures of society?

Educational systems, for the most part, reflect the socio-economic structures of the societies in which they function; whether egalitarian or inegalitarian. There is also the tendency for educational systems to perpetuate, reinforce and even reproduce those economic and social structures.

Why are schools important in sociology?

In sociology, schools are seen as an important part of the process of becoming socialized, of experiencing the various cultures and subcultures, of transmitting, perpetuating and developing attitudes and ideologies (Meighan, 1981).