Kara Blevins

Professor Ziegler Blevins 1

SOC 161

11/09/19

Sociology Term Project

There are many influences upon the occupational structure and economic environment

affecting The United States of America and beyond. These changes which are technological,

economic, political, and social are impacting jobs all around us. This includes serious changes

such as certain jobs leaving America and new jobs being created. Meaning, some Americans will

need to learn new skill sets to either hold onto their jobs or to be hired somewhere else. All of

this information is critical for students to know and look into as some might be working toward

degrees for jobs that will no longer exist in a few years. This information is also backed by

sociology and explained by several sociological theories.

Structural functionalism is one of the main theories in sociology. When examined,

structural functionalism is the idea that social institutions such schools, the military, families, the

legal system, the labor market, and more all have an important role to play in society to keep it

running (Conley, 32). Basically, it explains why society functions the way it does by assessing

the relationships between each social institution. The other part of structural functionalism

includes social facts. Social facts are decided by the entire society as a whole and cannot be

influenced by an individual. One example of this is the law. It’s something that is always there

and we don’t really have any issues with it until we go against it, then there are repercussions

(Brown, 1:22-1:27). Emile Durkheim played a key role in the ideas of structural functionalism

along with Talcott Parsons (Colney, 32). Another part of this theory that can tie into jobs is how

employment gives people income, fulfillment, and a part of their identity. Giving everyone a
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purpose, place, and striving for equilibrium. Structural functionalism looks at society as a whole,

rather than the individual. All of the parts working together to create one stable society. This

concept could be applied to something like big versus small businesses. Big businesses usually

end up crushing smaller businesses because they have the capital, resources, advertising, etc...

When this occurs it takes smaller businesses out of the equation and can mess up the equilibrium.

For example, Starbucks has many stores and plenty of customers so they can be considered a big

business. The local coffee shop down the street has it’s role in society, but when it’s customers

are taken away by Starbucks it can mess with the societal balance. So in turn, the local coffee

shop must accommodate to their customer base in order to stay in business. These smaller

businesses accommodating to their customers to stay in business provides an example of

structural functionalism because they are adjusting to fit into their role in society. I plan to use

this theory (structural functionalism) to further examine how jobs will have to adjust to find their

place in society or else they will be replaced. As a college student, this is important to look into

now because the career we are working toward could evolve and be completely different than

what we know it as now.

Social conflict theory is the second main concept in sociology. This theory tells us that all

the social institutions of society end up working toward unequal wealth and power (Ziegler,

PowerPtlecture11.18.19, slide 15). It describes the social system as never truly stable. This

theory looks at society as competing for limited resources. Everything is a competition. While

structural functionalism is basically society coming to a consensus, social conflict theory

interacts with conflict (Conley, 34). Another difference between the two is how structural

functionalists believe inequality is needed for a working society while social conflict theorists

think that inequality isn’t fair and those who are powerful take advantage of the less powerful
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(Conley, 34). Therefore, the less powerful or the “out-group” doesn’t have nearly as much to

gain within the society because the more powerful or “in-group” is in control. Conflict doesn’t

always have a negative impact, it can sometimes be successful. Having continuous conflict can

eventually force change. This theory originated with Karl Marx and has been further influenced

and developed by other sociologists such as Ralph Dahrendorf and Lewis Coser (Conley, 34).

My chosen degree that I am currently working on is elementary education. The job of

kindergarten and elementary school instructors is to teacher every child in the school system

equally (Federal Bureau of Labor, 2019). They must educate on a wide variety of subjects such

as math, reading, art, science, and more. Overall, this prepares students for future schooling. This

particular job requires a bachelor’s degree (at least) and public school teachers must have a state-

issued certificate or license. Teaching is fairly demanding during the week, but teachers mostly

have their weekends and summers off. There’s a lot of planning required with teaching,

especially with younger children. The Federal Bureau of Labor tells us that in the next 10 years

(2018-2028) this occupation will only grow by 3%. While student enrollment should increase for

elementary schoolers, this job is increasing slower than the average rate. This is because are

many school districts that cannot fill their positions. They simply can’t fill the positions because

their budget isn’t large enough (Barnum, 2018). Another factor is that there just aren’t enough

people interested in teaching due to the fact that the salary is so low. This leads to little or no

encouragement for people to become teachers and in turn, more vacant spots in schools. This is

definitely something to keep an eye on, but not worth panicking over, as it is still increasing

rather than decreasing.

Elementary education jobs might be growing at a slower rate, but I don’t believe that

teachers will be out of jobs anytime soon. Many people may decide to stay away from becoming
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an educator as the annual salary has stayed relatively stagnant. Within just the past decade and

the impact of inflation, the national average for teacher’s salaries has gone down 4.5% (National

Education Association). So it seems while the need for teacher’s is still rising, the national

average of teacher’s salaries are going down with inflation. This does appear fairly negative, the

hope is that budgets for educators will increase providing higher pay. Research has shown that

providing bonuses to positions that are hard to fill within the school system (special education

and areas of poverty) helps keep hold of these teachers (Long, 2019). As explained by Cindy

Long, many educators choose their career path because they want to make a change and feel

passionate about their job, not to become extremely wealthy. While wealth would obviously

attract more teachers, many (including myself) choose the profession because they believe in

their students. This is one reason why elementary education jobs are growing although the salary

is decreasing. There is still a need for teachers and people still love to do it. I think the salary will

effect the retention rate of teachers more so than the number of people deciding to become

teachers. Some people just may not be able to make a living from it, especially with student

loans.

With technology on the rise, it seems like a computer or robot could take the place of

anyone or anything. This will require teachers to adapt their old skills and learn brand new ones.

For example, if there is a teacher completely unfamiliar with how to use technology, they will

most likely have to learn how in order to keep their job and not get replaced by someone who is

familiar with technology. This could mean there is going to be an additional course added to an

elementary education teacher’s college requirements involving the use of technology, a seminar

for teachers who have already graduated and are currently educating students, or teachers just

need to figure it out on their own or be replaced. To be effective, teachers will need to work with
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technology rather than against it. Teaching is different as it requires improvising on the spot,

adapting a lesson for multiple learning styles, and getting to know the children in your classroom

to create a healthy learning environment. Even though there is already technology in schools, it

hasn’t replaced teachers. Instead, teachers are using this to benefit their student’s learning.

Videos help visual learners, computers can bring an interactive method into the classroom, and

eBooks are great when a school doesn’t have enough copies of books (or the book they need

right away). These few examples of technology in classrooms shows technology is actually

helping teachers prepare well-rounded lessons for all types of learners. There are certain things

that technology will not be able to replace in a classroom. The social environment and needs

within a classroom are one major factor that will most likely never be replicated by technology.

One example is how teachers deal with a lot of problems relating to the social issues in the

classroom that can distract students if they are not handled (Collinson, 2001). Currently, robots

are not programmed to deal with twenty or more children with multiple issues going on at a time.

This is where the quick-thinking teacher comes in. A teacher knows each student fairly well and

can try to use that to his/her advantage to solve social issues. A classroom setting also provides

students with an environment where they can learn certain social behaviors needed for later life.

Even with computers, teachers are still needed in the classroom, especially elementary education

teachers. Children don’t know how to properly behave in a classroom without a figure of

authority guiding them. Students need guidance. As mentioned before, the type of guidance a

student needs is different for each child. That’s why a teacher is so important, they are the judge

of what the child needs and how to adapt, react, and overcome to get the student what he/she

needs to learn.
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Another factor that affects jobs is global competition. In 2015 The United States placed

24th in science and 38th in math according to PISA (Programme for International Student

Assessment, 2017). The Programme for International Student Assessment is designed to show

how students apply their knowledge and what they are able to do with it, more than just what

they know within each subject. Results from PISA show educators and policy makers the quality

of education that is received all over the world and allows them to learn from the techniques used

in other countries for success. As mentioned earlier in this essay, teachers don’t get paid very

much and are expected to do their job simply for their love of educating children. While that is a

very important part of the job, teachers need to be compensated for their time and effort. The

U.S. always talks about quality education but we never seem to put our money where our mouth

is. The real question is what exactly are we doing to keep our teachers motivated and working

hard? I believe the overall answer is nothing, or at least nothing noticeable. We expect teachers

to educate a nation but do not supply them with materials, a high salary, bonuses, or a voice. We

hold education so highly and deem it necessary to climb the ladder to a great profession, but we

really don’t provide it. Other professions are motivated by money. The best way to get them to

continue to work hard is a raise or a hefty bonus once or twice a year. It could be materials for a

classroom, a bonus, a better salary, or a choice in curriculum and a teacher could be motivated.

All of that to say, we expect such high things of the United States when going into things like the

PISA test but we really don’t provide teachers with adequate tools to educate at an extremely

high and motivated level. Global competition creates a dynamic where each country will want to

work harder toward a satisfactory education as they want to be the best (this does not mean they

will always follow through). No one wants to have the worst scores in a test like this, but as

previously mentioned some might be very upset some about the U.S. not placing 1st, they aren’t
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really doing anything to improve the situation. A conflict theorist might feel this way, if you are

already at the bottom or a “loser” you’re stuck there because the wealthy are in control,

therefore, you cannot improve. This could always change and some countries might take their

test scores and work harder afterward. If that is the case, it furthers education and also teaches

students about globalization. The downfall is that students who are not motivated or trying in

school will not learn how to contribute through work, citizenship, and service. Teaching students

about globalization is valuable because they learn what is going on in the world and why.

Students gain insight into how the world is connected. Another positive aspect of globalization is

the way it has and will continue to change our values and outlooks as we are connected to the

world. There is more than just one country, one culture, and one perspective. It’s important to not

be ethnocentric and only think our specific country is all that matters or all that influences the

world. This coincides with the structural functionalism view, believing that everything has a

place to keep society running smoothly.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the federal role in education is

considered limited. This is because the Tenth Amendment influenced the policy so that education

is decided at the state and local levels. Basically, federal law makes sure that everyone has equal

access to education and safeguarding students as well as teachers’ constitutional rights. State

legislatures are in charge of setting rules and guidelines for students to graduate. They also

decide on the common core curriculum and what teachers need to be teaching. While the federal

role in education is important, it is fairly non-specific. The more specific rules and curriculum

standards are decided within each state. State role appears to have a stronger impact on education

in general. At the end of the day, individual states are responsible for the maintenance and

operation of public schools. Every state must provide a school system that allows children to
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receive an education. While this is true for the United States, a lot of other countries do things

differently. For example, Finland (who has one of the leading educational systems in the world)

is nationally funded based upon the number of students they have. While the U.S. is locally

funded based on high performance (Tung, 2012). The U.S. actually ends up wasting more money

on mediocre education rather than actually rethinking the educational system to save money,

time, and support students at a higher level. Someone who follows the structural functionalism

theory might believe every country has it’s place and that America doesn’t need to be #1 in order

for society to function properly. They would believe everyone needs their own place in order for

society to run smoothly. This is hoping to motivate the more qualified people in the most

important jobs to work hard. Saying that inequality is inevitable and we should accept where we

are globally because it is our way to function. As previously mentioned, the comparison is that a

social conflict theorist might believe those with the lowest PISA test scores will most likely stay

at the bottom with no room for improvement because those at the top have more “power”.

All of these factors affect teachers, students, education, and job opportunities. Overall, I

have found that teachers will most likely be needed for a very long time (at least through my

generation). Technology just isn’t ready to take over the classroom, but it does continue to be a

valuable resource within the classroom. I believe that after I finish my degree I will be able to

find a job in the elementary education field with ease. I know that as a teacher, the state decides

what I teach. This is something I knew going into this field and something I am fine with.

Following common core curriculum for students certainly isn’t a dream of mine, however, taking

the common core and teaching it to the best of my ability is the goal. The state has the power to

dictate and evaluate. So, I am aware that the state plays a big role in this career choice. Beliefs

such as religion are usually avoided in schools. This can be an extremely sensitive topic and
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while it is important to discuss religion in schools for educational purposes, it must be done

without bias. I think this would affect a teacher who was really passionate about his/her religion

and they would have to be very careful not to be biased in order to keep their job. Being a

teacher means putting your own opinions aside (no matter how strong they are) to give children a

chance to learn, grow, and form their own uninfluenced but educated opinions.

Global competition is a great example of social conflict theory. For example, most

counties would prefer to be first in the education rankings around the world rather than last. This

causes conflict due to the unequal distribution of power and wealth. A wealthy country will most

likely have better scores because they have the money to provide a strong education. So they

would be on top. A country without a lot of money will most likely be at the bottom because they

just won’t have nearly as many resources to educate. Anyone who sees the world through the

social conflict theory would feel this is an extremely unfair situation because the wealthier

countries would obviously have an advantage and be in control and it wouldn’t be considered

“fair”. This creates a never-ending competitive environment, but sometimes conflict can lead to

change. Countries feel more powerful if they are number one. While the education example

won’t lead us into war, it could create a lot of change in some countries realize they need to

rework their educational system for the better. I feel as if you can also look at the global

competition through a structural functionalist view as well. I think a structural functionalist

would acknowledge that there is competition between the countries globally to be the frontrunner

in education. Mainly because structural functionalism doesn’t deny that there can be conflict, but

they know that everyone will come to a consensus. As for global competition, I believe a

structural functionalist might think every country has its place and that it is okay to be unequal

because everyone has a purpose. It also provides motivation and the society can grow stronger as
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a whole. In this specific case, each country can continue to work on their educational system

based upon their rankings and it will make the entire world stronger educationally since everyone

is trying to either hold their high position or work towards a better one. Personally, I think the

school environment in the United States is most similar to the structural functionalism point of

view as well. You have people like principals, teachers, cafeteria workers, and janitors all

working together to keep the school running. Not everyone is in competition. Janitors aren’t

usually trying to be a teacher and not all teachers want to be a principal. While everything might

not be equal, not everyone is really trying to be equal. They all have the job they are doing and

work together to keep the school(s) running. After learning all about the changes and factors

affecting elementary school teachers, I still want to pursue this as my career. While the job itself

might change with the growth of technology; I think teachers will need to integrate technology

further into lessons, but will not be replaced by it. I found it interesting that the national average

salary was going down but the need for teachers was still increasing. The salary is certainly

something for me to watch over the next few years as I will have student loans to pay off after

school. I will need to make enough money to support myself. Overall, if the percentage of jobs in

the field continues to grow, I should easily be able to find a job after college.
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Works Cited

Barnum, Matt. “In Many Large School Districts, Hundreds of Teaching Positions Were Unfilled

as School Year Began.” Chalkbeat, Chalkbeat, 8 Jan. 2018,

www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2018/01/09/in-many-large-school-districts-hundreds-of-

teaching-positions-were-unfilled-as-school-year-began. This article discusses the dilemma

of unfilled teaching positions in the school system, especially in larger school systems. It

goes into detail on why these positions simply aren’t filling and how budgets and salary

tend to be the main issues. The article also looks at the negative impact on children when a

teacher isn’t hired until later in the semester due to budget struggles. The author also

discusses ways to retain teachers from one year to the next (such as bonuses here and

there). I’ll be using this source to focus on why so many spots are vacant in these high

volume schools and what can be done to encourage teachers to start working in these

school systems or at least stay in them from one year to the next. I think this source is

trustworthy because the overall goal of the non-profit website is to inform America about

the effort to improve schools, which they are clearly doing. The author is also a language

arts teacher in Colorado so he has direct experience with what he is writing about.

Brown, Sydney. “Functionalism.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2013,

www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/society-and-culture/social-

structures/v/functionalism. This source provides valuable information relating to structural

functionalism. I will be using this source to further expand my own explanation and

understanding of this theory. This video source discusses why structural functionalism is
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used, why it’s even important, who invented it, and how society is working toward

equilibrium. It also discusses social institutions and social facts. I found this source to be

trustworthy as Khan Academy is an educational source used in so many classrooms every

day. The information matched our course textbook, but further expanded upon the theory

with details.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,

Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers,

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/kindergarten-and-elementary-

school-teachers.htm#tab-1 (Accessed November 7, 2019) This website will be extremely

useful in my paper as it has the adequate data describing my job field. I will be using this

website to support my paper and add details such as, the definition of my occupation, the

percentage of growth this job will have over the next ten years, and the qualifications

needed for this job. I believe this source is trustworthy as it is a Government website

recommended by instructors. All of the information provided from this source is

collected and analyzed because that is a major goal this source has. While the data is true

for most metropolitan areas, for smaller rural areas it might not apply as well. This is

because there are fewer people in rural areas and it is harder to collect the data. Overall, I

need this source to have proper data about my career choice, and it appears to be the most

trusted.

Collinson, V. (2001). Intellectual, Social, and Moral Development: Why Technology Cannot

Replace Teachers. High School Journal, 85(1),35.

https://doiorg.ccproxy.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/hsj.2001.0015 I will be using this source to

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support my reasons as to why technology cannot replace teachers. This source will also

be useful in supporting why social development is important for children. It will also be

used to describe what teachers bring sociologically to the school system and it’s students.

I found this article trustworthy because it has been peer-reviewed and was found on our

school’s database. Some of this information is also proven true as I have read about it in

prior educational course textbooks.

Long, Cindy. “Average Teacher Salary Down 4.5% Over the Past Decade.” NEA Today, 1 May

2019, neatoday.org/2019/04/29/national-average-teacher-salary/. This article provided

information about the number of teachers’ salaries have gone down in the past decade

nationally. It even gave an example of a teacher who had been in the school system as a

teacher for quite a while but simply wasn’t making enough money to pay off her student

loans. There were also examples of how teachers were handling making under $50,000

with even the highest degree. They were going on strike. This source will help me make

my case that teachers are still underpaid and also underappreciated. I found this article to

be trustworthy because they one of the largest and most powerful labor union in the U.S.

They are just trying to support educational professionals and prepare students. This

organization has been around since 1857.

OECD (2017), PISA 2015 Results (Volume V): Collaborative Problem Solving, PISA, OECD

Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264285521-en. This source will be used in

my essay as an example of global competition. It has percentages and statistics that will

help show where the United States ranks as far as education goes. This will be useful for

comparing and contrasting different countries and their ranking education-wise. I found
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this source to be trustworthy because around 4,000 students from each country take this

specific test so there is a wide variety of knowledge. It isn’t one student from each

country which would not be nearly as accurate as 4,000. All in all, this is a real test

conducted properly so I found the book with the data to be just as trustworthy. While the

test is technically fair it’s important to remember some questions could get changed in the

translation of languages in some way. This is hard to avoid and is something they could

certainly work on avoiding but are still being fair with the test.

Tung, Stephen. “How the Finnish School System Outshines U.S. Education.” Stanford

University, 20 Jan. 2012, news.stanford.edu/news/2012/january/finnish-schools-reform-

012012.html#:~:targetText=While%20U.S.%20public%20schools%20are,on%20the

%20number%20of%20students. This article was focused on the Finnish versus the United

States school system. Basically reflecting over how far the Finnish have come and how

they have surpassed the U.S. educationally to become one of the best educational systems

in the world. I’ll be using this source to show the flawed educational system in the United

States and why we aren’t #1 globally. I found this source reliable because it is from a well-

known and respected University. The website was also considered an educational website

and I compared the data to a few other sources and everything seemed to check out

properly.