At the end of this chapter, the students must

be able to:

• Explain the three social science

theories and their implications to
education
THREE SOCIAL
THEORIES
 THREE SOCIAL THEORIES

• Structural-functional Theory
• Conflict Theory
• Symbolic Interactionalist Theory
1. SOFNATCILTIN 6. OMSBICY
2. PTPCEREVIS 7. OMCMITAUNONI
3. ACTSTULRR 8. ERFINCEDE
4. NITOTEIACN 9. AROELINZIT
5. OSTCILOAIZIN 10. TICELTNUELA
1. FUNCTIONALIST 6. SYMBOLIC
2. PERSPECTIVE 7. COMMUNICATION
3. STRUCTURAL 8. DIFFERENCE
4. INTERACTION 9. REALIZATION
5. SOCIALIZATION 10. INTELLECTUAL
Structural-functional Theory

• Herbert Spencer views society as a

system of interconnected parts each
with a unique function
• Society has different but interrelated
components such as family, state,
school, church, mass media, economics
• Failure of one social institution to do its
part means disruption of stability in
society
 Structural-functional Theory
• Focuses on how education serves the
need of society through the
development of skills encouraging
social cohesion
• Schools should prepare students for
participation in the institutions of society
• Does not encourage people to take an
active role in changing their social
environment
 Purposes of schooling according
to Functionalists

• Intellectual Purposes
• Political Purposes
• Economic Purposes
• Social Purposes
 Recall….
• EDSA
• SPANISH OCCUPATION
• WORLD WAR II
• OPLAN-TOKHANG
 Conflict Theory
• There are always two
opposing sides in a conflict
situation. Karl Marx
• Conflict is the way to the
establishment of society.
• Unequal groups usually have
conflicting values and
agendas.
 How Proponents of Conflict
Theory Regard Education?
• Education must maintain social
inequality and preserve the power
of those who dominate society and
teach those in the working class to
accept their position as a lower
class worker of society
 Symbolic Interactionist Theory
1. An individual’s action
depends on meaning.
2. Different people may give
different meanings to the
same thing.
3. Meanings change as George H. Mead
individuals interact with one
another.
 Implications to Teaching
• Promote and create opportunities for
genuine interaction among the students.
• Use positive symbols to express trust,
belief in the students’ abilities.
• Symbols should be understood by
others in the way they are intended to
be.
 Weakness of Symbolic Interaction
Theory

• Neglects the macro level of

interpretation
 Activity
1. The purpose of schooling according to the
functionalist theory are:
Intellectual purposes
Political Purposes
Economic Purposes
Social Purposes
Cite how schools at present are working on the
realization of these 4 purposes as cited by the
functionalists.
2. Adherents to the conflict theory claim that
schools teach loyalty so that those in power
remain in power and those below will forever be
at the bottom. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. Individuals act based on meaning. This
meaning is based on individuals’ experiences.
Meanings change. Give two implications of these
symbolic interactionist thoughts to education.