Chapter 13 Outline

Theories on Education: Is education "equalizing"?

1. Functionalism: How education helps/functions in our society Manifest functions: transmission of skill/knowledge/values, productivity for society, new knowledge Latent functions: prolonged adolescence, age segregation, childcare, keep teenagers together,

equalizing institution.
2. Conflict theory: Education to reproduce class structure/inequality. Public & private schools Hidden curriculum (values/norms), credentialism, bias in testing What happened in the 1960s. Education as empowerment.

School system in US: History and current states Religious, occupational training & compulsory education Changes in high school dropout rate, college enrollment rate, college graduation rate Whats being taught at school? Four elements of education: Universality, egalitarianism, standardization, individualism. How to promote school achievement Family (norms, network, interaction) Teachers (instrumental/expressive leadership) Schools (size/differentiation and culture---communal organization) Elements of formal and private education School board, faculty, students Parochial schools, prep schools, private colleges, and power elites.

Failure of American schools (inferior achievements compared to other countries)

Standardized scores: Questions are easier now. Why students do not learn: Money (teachers pay and facilities) and/or motivations? Various solutions. Education is empowerment. Education is equalizing.