Sociological Perspectives on Education | BICTE | Foundation of Education

Unit IV: Sociological perspectives on Education

4.1   Relation between sociology and education

Sociology and Education, as two branches of knowledge, concerned essentially with man and his life, are intimately related. Education has come to be known as one of the basic activities of human societies everywhere. The continued existence of a society depends upon the transmission of its heritage to the young. It is essential that the young be trained according to the ways and expectations of the groups so that they will behave in a desired way. All societies have their own ways and means of meeting this need. ‘Education’ as a process has come to stay as an effective means of meeting this need.

The term “education” comes from the Latin word “educare” which means to bring up. Another Latin word “educere” which means to bring forth. So, the derivative meaning of the word Education is to bring forth as well as bring up. Education, in its widest sense, can mean everything that is learned by an individual in society. Durkheim conceived of education as the ‘socialisation of the younger generation’. It is a process of transmission of social heritage. Education consists of “an attempt on the part of the adult members of human society to shape the development of the coming generation in accordance with its own ideals of life.”

Education and Sociology are intimately related. Education is one of the major institutions of society. It is the creation of society itself. Educational activities constitute a part of the social activities of man. In this way ‘education’ appears as a branch of Sociology. Educational Sociology is a branch of the discipline of sociology which is confronted with the problems of relationship between society and education.

4.2   Socialization as a base

4.2.1.   Concept

Human beings are social animals. They take birth in society. They live and die in society. The existence of individual person cannot be imagined outside of society. Society is an aggregate of individuals having a common culture, values and feeling of unity. All these cultures, values and feeling of unity are the products of their struggle for existence. This struggle becomes successful because of their collective efforts, in which all the people play different roles in society. This relation should be continued not only for benefit of the society but also for the individuals, therefore, socialization has become a must for the existence of society and individuals.

Aristotle has said, "Man is a social organism. Who does not live in society can be only an animal or the God."

The interdependence of people compels themselves to live in the society. All the people in society are interdependent to each other. One person cannot to do all things which are needed for his of her existence. For example, a farmer grows food, a weaver weaves cloths, a physician cures others, a teacher teaches students but they are interdependent on each other for other needs. They cannot do all the above mentioned duties only by themselves. They are dependent on others for the fulfilment of many of their needs. They provide service to others and also enjoy service of others. Therefore, all people are compelled to live in society. Their existence is not possible outside the society.

Every society has its own values, beliefs and norms. A society can only exits when all the members of it follow these rules. The process of learning these rules in called socialization process. It is the process of changing from "I" feeling to "We" feeling. When the individual accepts others' existence and accepts oneself as the member of a group, only then he or she can be considered as being socialized.

All the persons take birth as a "biological organism". As a biological organism, they take birth with some fundamental needs such as hunger, thirst, pain and pleasure. They can be compared with an animal due to these needs.. But when they are socialized, they identify themselves as the member of some specified group. It is called the process of socialization. This process of socialization turns them as a "social organism". In this way, socialization can be defined as a process of transformation of a person from a biological organism to a social organism.

Different scholars have defined socialization in the following ways:

"Socialization is the process whereby persons learn to behave dependable together on the behalf of human welfare and in doing so experience social self control, social responsibility and balanced personality." - Bogardus

"Socialization is the process by which social beings establish wider and profound relationships with one another, in which they become more bound up with and more perceptive of the personality of themselves and of others' to build up the complex structure on nearer and wider association."

-  Mclver

"Socialization is the process by which the individual learns to confirm the norms of the group."

-  Ogburn

In this way, socialization is a process of internalization of the value system, norms, culture and belief system of a group, which is named as the society. It is the group, to which the individuals belong. The individual socializes himself for the purpose of his existence in the society.

In short, the process and need of socialization can be summarized as follows:

·       Socialization is the process of internalizing the values, beliefs and norms of society by an individual.

·       This transforms an individual as an active and responsible member of society.

·       By socialization, individuals learn basic social skills.

·       They adjust themselves in the society by socialization.

·       They become a disciplined member of the society.

4.2.2.   Modes

Modes of socialization are related to the ways adopted by social agencies to socialize a child. Social agencies generally use the following two modes to socialize a child:

·       Repressive mode of socialization

·       Permissive mode of socialization

I.            Repressive mode of socialization: It is a parent-centered or society-centered mode of socialization. In this mode, the parents or society decide the pattern of behaviour, which the children should follow. They do this for the welfare of the child. They develop a code of conduct for the child and they wish the child should follow this code of conduct without any questioning. This mode of socialization does not take care of the child's wish and interest. It gives more emphasis on the execution of the discipline. Communication takes place in the form of command, which is generally one-way. It requires the child to follow the command fully without any question. This mode of socialization is less time consuming. It shapes the behaviour of the child in a pre-specified manner; therefore, it tries to develop a homogeneous

society. It makes the child more conformist rather than at creative child. A conformist child is that obedient child who tries to confirm the behaviour taught to him or her. They are just good followers. Repressive mode of socialization gives more emphasis to make a child a good follower of adults. For the development of prescribed behaviour, it rewards the right behaviour and punishes the wrong behaviour. The reward in repressive mode of socialization is material and punishment is physical.

II.            Permissive mode of socialization: It is a child-centered mode of socialization. This mode of socialization respects the child's wishes, needs, freedom and interest. Children themselves make their own code of conduct by trial-and-error process based on the theory of "learning by doing". Children are permitted to select the pattern of behaviour according to their needs and make their own course of discipline. Society and parents play the role of guide in this form of socialization. The communication in this type of socialization is always two-way. Parent and child both communicate to establish the code of conduct. Although this socialization process takes more time to develop a particular code of conduct in this system, it makes the child more creative. Children explore relevant behaviour by their own experience. There is an individual difference in the socialization of a child; therefore, it develops a heterogeneous society. Similar to repressive mode of socialization, it also rewards the right behaviour and punishes the wrong behaviour, but the reward is symbolic and punishment is corrective.

Permissive mode of socialization can be further classified into two types:

a.       Laissez faire mode of socialization: In this type of socialization, children enjoy total freedom for choosing their code of conduct. Code of conduct is decided based on the will and experiences of a child. There is no or very little intervention of parents in the learning of a child. The child should be totally responsible for him or herself. Such socialization can lead the behaviour of child to both right and wrong. At present time, laissez faire mode has become a common mode in many developed societies, especially for grown up children. It leads to individuality rather that socialization.

b.       Democratic mode of socialization: This type of socialization is more planned and prescribed in comparison to laissez faire mode. Children are socialized according to a predetermined plan and a prescribed set of behaviour. They are trained to respect others' will while performing any activity. However, they are permitted to learn all these behaviour via their own experience. Their will and interest is paid a regard, but they are taught to respect others' will and interest.

These both types of socialization can be compared as follows:

 

S.N.	Repressive mode			Permissive mode
1.	Based on  the punishment  behaviour.	of	wrong	Based on the rewarding of right behaviour.
2.	Material                        reward                        and punishment.		physical	Symbolic reward punishment.	and	corrective
3.	Society / parent-centered, child should be obedient.			Child-centered, there is autonomy of child.
4.	Non-verbal and one-way communication.			Verbal                          and communication.		two-way
5.	Communication as command.			Communication as interactions.
6.				Clarity, good   understanding   and good relationship.

7.	Development of homogeneous society.	Development    of                             heterogeneous society.
8.	Parents decide the code of conduct.	Child decides own code of conduct.
9.	Externally imposed discipline.	Self-discipline.
10.	Development of a conformist child.	Development of a creative child.

4.3   Agencies of socialization

Education is considered as acquiring knowledge and information from different fields. It is not only acquiring knowledge but also attaining diverse skills, making healthy relations, handling difficult situations, disseminating knowledge and inculcating certain untold ethical values in life. Though school is a formal institution that imparts education, there are a number of informal institutions that educate an individual in developing a range of capacities at different levels in life. In fact an individual acquires informal education through the medium of experience and life situations. The day-to-day life of an individual enables him in acquiring knowledge in diverse fields and thus educating himself.

4.3.1   Active agencies

An agency is active when both parties – the educator and the one who get educated – participate actively in the learning process of acquiring and disseminating knowledge, skill or information. The agency that disseminates knowledge to a person or people in general also get influenced or educated by the participants. Interaction is mutual and both the participating parties are benefited. For instance, in a play ground every one brings some kind of knowledge while following a general knowledge and rule of a game. A kind of sharing of this knowledge takes place during the course of a game. Mutual respect, fellow feeling, competitive spirit and adaptability are developed in the course of time from a playground.

4.3.2   Passive agencies

In contrast to active agencies, in passive education the agencies that disseminate knowledge and skill do not get influenced or educated by the recipients. In passive education, teaching and learning is a one-way process. Interaction is also less in passive education. For instance, one can watch a television programme that teaches a language (say English or Hindi) and improve his English or Hindi. But a viewer cannot influence the television in return while he acquires something from it. Similarly; the press, films, magazines and radio acts as passive agencies of education. Though blogs are seen as passive agencies, they can also work as active agency since the people who read a blog can express their opinion openly.

There are various agencies, which play important roles in socialization. These agencies are:

a.       Family: It is a basic agency, which plays an active role in the socialization of a child. It is that social group, with which the child comes in contact at first. The relationship between a child and its family is intimate and full of sense of responsibility. Family plays an active role in the socialization of a child. It teaches the child social behaviours. It is the first window from where the child peeps to the outer world. There is a great role of family in the moral and social development of a child. It is said, "Mother's lap is the first school of a child". The socialization of a child begins from the family. It is also related to the sense of security for the child. The influence of family remains throughout the life. Family is considered a primary social group because it has intimate relation with the child. It actively functions towards the socialization of the child.

b.       Peer group: Peer group is another primary social group, which has a large influence on the behaviour of a child. Generally, peer groups are formed as a playgroup. This playgroup includes the children of the same age group and they have the relationship of equal status, therefore, it has a vast effect on the behaviour of a child. The child learns how to behave with other people through the interaction with playgroups. There are different types of peer

groups, which influence the behaviour of the child. The nature of peer groups differs in different stages of life. The peer group at "early childhood stage" (2-6 years) is called playmates. A child learns his or her first social behaviour playing with their playmates. The influence of a peer group is most at "late childhood stage" (6-10/12 years) and at adolescence (13/14 18 years). The peer group of the late childhood stage is known as "Gang". Gang is the group of the same-age children from which the child learns the norms of social behaviour. They learn to compete, to cooperate, to follow discipline, quality of leadership, sympathy through groups. Peer influence is most powerful at adolescence stage, in which stage a child makes his value and belief system through peer influences.

c.       School: Schools are the formal agencies of socialization. They prepare the child to face the problems of the future in a planned manner. They develop the character of citizenship in them. Schools socialize children in a systematic manner. Schools teach all the behaviour which is needed for the child to be a responsible member of society. Society has established schools for the purpose of socialization of a child and schools play this role in a formal manner. Schools of modern age have become a important agency for the socialization of the child. On the one hand, they develop the character of citizenship in the child; they also prepare them according to the need of the future. The schools of modern age are playing two-fold duty of socialization of the young and preparing them for the future at the same time. Schools are considered as the secondary agencies of socialization. Their relationship with the child is formal. The relationship of individuals with the school differs from person to person.

d.       Community: Community is a group of people having common lifestyle. The people belonging to a community have a specific value system and lifestyle and they transmit it to all new members of the community. They play an important role in socialization of the young ones. The influence of a community on an individual depends on the interpersonal relationship between them. It influences the behaviour of child a to a large extent. The culture of a community plays a significant role in the determination of cultural mode of an individual. It is also a secondary group which influences the behaviour of the child. The relationship between individual community is causal and varies from person to person.

e.       Associations: A person may be a member of different types of associations. It may be a political, a religious or a cultural association. These all associations are formed with a specific objective. An individual becomes the member of any association voluntarily on his or her own will. These associations spread a specific value system and when a person becomes the member of that organization, he or she becomes influenced by that value system. They make their value system by these influences. In this way, associations play an important role in socialization of an individual. It is also an example of a secondary group, which influences the behaviour of the child in a specific manner. The relationship between individual and associations is voluntary and self-motivated. This relationship also varies from person to person.

f.        Mass media: Media is a marginal agency for socialization. It includes all printed, audio-visual and electronic media, which propagate some specific thoughts in society. It includes printed as well as electronic media. Newspaper, magazines, books, radio, television, movies, computers etc are different examples of media, which influence the ideology of an individual. The relationship between human beings and media is optional and voluntary. human beings seek this relationship themself. Media are considered as a marginal agency because the relationship between media and an individual is self-motivated and voluntary. The influence of media on common people is increasing nowadays. They are influencing the thought of modern people to a large extent. They are helpful in creating public opinion. They have

become a great medium for spreading cultural effects. They are changing the culture of modern people to a large extent at present time.

g.       Political, religious and economic groups: There may be some external agencies, which can influence the socialization process of a child in direct or indirect manner. Among these agencies, political, religious and economic groups are the prominent agencies, which deeply affect socialization process. Political groups spread ideologies and unite people based on it. They influence the behaviour of an individual to a large extent. Similarly, religious doctrine is a binding thread for a group of people. It also influences the behaviour of an individual. In modern society, economic groups are also affecting social behaviour. For example, rise of consumption culture, which is deeply affecting the social structure of present time, is an influence of economic group. The strata of people based on their economic status also shapes their behaviour. For example, apathy from education, in the poor group is a subculture developed by their economic status. They tend to choose blue coloured job, thus show apathy towards education because of this subculture. In this way, economic groups also play a significant role in socialization.

4.4   Social interaction

Concept

Social interaction is all types of action and reactions that take place between the individuals and groups of a society and through which they influence others' behaviour and also modify ones' behaviour. It is a two polar process in which a person acts both as a stimulant and a respondent. As a stimulant he or she affects other's behaviour and as a respondent, he is affected by other's behaviour. In this process, the people involved in social interaction influence each other's behaviour. It is the process by which a person learns social behaviour. A person is socialized in his or her through social interactions.

Different scholars have defined social interaction as follows:

"Social interaction is the name given to any of the possible relations between persons in a group or between the themselves considered as social units. It is through social interaction the cultural patterns are passed on."

-A.K.C. Ottaway

"Social interactions are the mutual influences that individuals and groups have on one another in their attempt to solve problems and in their striving towards goals."

-  Arnold Green

"Social interaction is defined as a social process when analyzed from the standpoint of inter- stimulations and responses of personalities and groups. It is a process not structure and is ever in the state of flux."

-  Radcliff Brown

In this way, social interaction is a relationship between individuals and groups, which modifies the behaviour of the people participating in it. Children learn the cultural pattern of society by social interaction. Socialization is also a result of social interaction. The two necessary conditions for social interaction are:

·       Social contact and

·       Exchange of ideas

Social interaction cannot take place in vacuum. There should be a direct contact between the people for social interaction. There should be exchange of ideas between them. The exchange of idea results social interaction.

Importance of social interaction

Classroom teaching and learning is itself a social interaction. Children interact with their teacher and their classmates. They learn many behaviours from this interaction. They also influence other's behaviour in the process of this interaction. This interaction may be between pupils to pupils, pupil to group and group to group. The learning of a child is the product of all these interactions.

Human beings are a social animal. They want to make their distinct identity in the society. The need of belongingness, self-esteem and self-actualization always motivates them to make their unique identity praised by others. People co-operates to fulfill this need. The praise and recognition received by helping others through co-operation always develop their self-esteem. They develop their capabilities to co-operate other. In this way, co-operation is very much helpful in enhancing social learning of individual.

Competition is a great motivator of learning process. In the condition of competition, one wants to supersede others for the protection of self-respect. It is a great motivating factor, which enhances learning in great amount. Similarly, the exchanges taken place in a classroom also strengthen learning of a child. The child learns a lot of behaviour by the exchange with others.

A child not only learns the prescribed behaviour determined by the curriculum in the classroom; he also learns how to live in the society. He or she learns how to be adjusted in society. The child learns the basic qualities of socialization through the social interaction in the classroom. All types of social interactions can be observed in the classroom. It may be conjunctive or disjunctive. It may be conflict or cooperation, but the child learns the basic skills for socialization in the larger society through the social interaction in the classroom. They compete with others, takes part in conflict; they learn how to accommodate them self in a new situation and finally they assimilate all the learned behaviour as their own code of conduct. In this way, social interaction within the classroom has great importance in enhancing the learning of the child and in socializing him or her in the larger society.