The sociology of education: A systematic analysis (7th ed. abstract Because education is an essential institution in society, the sociology of education must focus on an array of salient social issues, many with vital policy implications. 16.2 Sociological Perspectives on Education The Functions of Education. In sociology of education, one learns about the effects of government and individual behaviors on the field of education. The sociology of education contains a number of theories. The relation between sociology and education has always been a subject of debate.One concept says education is meant to overcome the inequalities of society whereas the other says the prime function of education is to promote the equilibrium status of the society ie it it tries to maintains equality/inequality whatever state is prevalent in the society. Today, sociologists and educators debate the function of education. Sociology of Education is one such sub-field of Sociology. The third major theoretical perspective in sociology of education is interaction theory, a micro-level theory that focuses on individual and small-group experiences in the educational system: the processes and interactions that take place in schools. Functional theory stresses the functions that education serves in fulfilling a society’s... Education and Inequality. Some of the main theories are presented below. Theories of Education Historically, American education served both political and economic needs, which dictated the function of education. Ballantine, J. H., & Hammack, F. M. (2012). The major sociological perspectives on education fall nicely into the functional, conflict, and symbolic interactionist approaches (Ballantine & Hammack, 2012). Updated July 03, 2019. Conflict theory does not dispute most of the functions just described. Describe how symbolic interactionism understands education. The sociology of education is a diverse and vibrant subfield that features theory and research focused on how education as a social institution is affected by and affects other social institutions and the social structure overall, and how various social forces shape the policies, practices, and outcomes of schooling . While education is typically viewed in most societies as a … Educational Sociology, on the other hand, can be described as the application of sociological findings in order to solve the problems in the field of education. ). This grid opposes two major poles (social/normative and SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO FORMAL EDUCATION This chapter is built on an analytical grid that provides a basis for comparing the different perspectives developed by contemporary sociology of education as they relate to their approach to social action. Three main theories represent their views: the functionalist theory, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interactionist theory.