Social Science Theories and

CHAPTER Their Implications to Education

Intended Learning Outcome

At the end of the Chapter, the students must be able to

explain three social science theories and their implications
to education.

Introduction
theoretical perspectives:
Sociologists today employ three primary
and the
the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective
symbolic perspective. These perspectives offer
interactionist
how society
sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining Each
influences people, and how people influence society.
social forces, and
perspective uniquely conceptualizes society,
human behavior.

Sing this song: Dem Bones

to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=for
the melody
(Refer

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,

dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!

The toe bone's connected to the foot bone,

The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone,
The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone,
Now shake dem skeleton bones

35
 Abstraction Let's Conceptualize
ne Dem Bones song introduces us to one of the 3 soclal
theories we shall learn in this Chapter, the functionalist theory.

Three Social Theories

1) Structural-functional theory
Herbert Spencer, the proponent of structurai-functional views

SOCiety as "a system of interconnected parts each with a unique

function. The parts have to work together for stability and balance
of society." Society is'compared to the human body with different
Just as the
but interrelated parts performing different functions.
interrelated
human body has many parts, society has different but
the Church,
components such as the family, the state, the school,
collaborate for
mass media, economics. These must coordinate and
human body does not
SOCiety to function well. If one part of the when one
function well, the whole body is affected. In the same way,
will not function
component of society does not do its part, society the
well. The overall health of the organism (society) depends upon
health of each structure.
message of the song,
Dem Bone. The bones
This is exactly the
are interconnect d. Each has a unique function.
and harmony
For instance, there is peace, stability, equilibrium
in bringing forth children,
in society if families do their part
if education or schools effectively
nurturing and socializing them; citizens
and values; if politics governs
transmit knowledge, skills
distribution of
if economics takes care of food production,
well;
and if
services strengthens the moral fiber of the
religion
goods and do its part
Failure of one social institution to
members of society.
in sOciety. For example, the rise of
means disruption of stability
dual earner families means families have less time
single parent and
no more time lett for the supervision of children in
or sometimes
which may result to an increase of non-performing
their homework
students in school.
educational institution must teach adults
In a high tech world,
and the world and
the new skills to relate to the tech-savvy young
more women in the
be more effective in the workplace. With
to
sexual harassment and discrimination
workplace, policies against
about to address
formulated. The Cybercrime Act of 2012 c a m e
were
online interactions and the internet
in the
legal issues concerning
Philippines.
of education focuses on how education
The functionalist theory
the development of skills
serves the need of sOCiety through
 he Teacher and the Community, School Culture and Organizational Leadership

38
encouraging social cohesion. The role of schooIs 1s to prepare
students for participation in the institutions of society. Education
is concerned with transmission of core values tor sOcial control
Education is concerned with socializing people by Dringing together
people from different backgrounds. The functionalist theory is
focused on social stability and solidarity. Functionalists see
education as a beneficial contribution to an ordered society
Functionalism does not encourage people to take an active
role in changing their social environment, even when such changge
may benefit them. Instead, functionalism sees active social change
as undesirable because the various parts of society will compensate
naturally for any problems that may arise. For example, schools can
compensate for the lack of time and the lack of parental advice from
home.

Purposes of Schooling according to Functionalists

The purposes of schooling according to the functionalist theory are:
1) Intellectual purposes - acquisition of cognitive skills, inquiry
skills
2) Political purposes educate future citizens; promote patriotism;
-

promote assimilation of immigrants; ensure order, public civility

and conformity to laws
3 Economic purposes prepare .students for later work
select and train the labor force needed roles
by society
4) Social purposes promote a sense of social and moral
responsibility; serve as a site for the solution or resolution ofe
social problems; supplement the efforts of other institutions of
socialization such as the family and the church

An examination of the present curricula in basic

and in tertiary
education shows that these 4 functions are
given attention to.
2. Conflict Theory
According this theory, there are
to
conflict situation. People take sides always
a
two opposing sides in
between maintaining the status
quo and introducing change then arrive
at an
theory welcomes conflict for that is the agreement. Contiict
way to the establishment or
a new
society. Conflict theorists find potential conflict
groups where inequality exists: between any
racial,
economic, and so on. Conflict theorists gender, religious, political,
note that unequal groups
usually have conficting valuesand agendas,
compete against another. This constant
one causing them
groups forms the basis for the competition between
ever-changing nature of society.
 Chapter 3-Social Science Theories and Their Implications to Educauon

The workers want change

tactory better working conditions,
higher salaries. The factory owners naturally are opposed to such.
The resolution of the conflict, however, leads to a compromise,a
change in the way the factory is managed where both workers and
owners are happy.

How Proponents of Conflict Theory Regard Education

According to the conflict theory, education is not truly a
sOCial beneit or opportunity as seen by the functionalists. Rather,
education is a powerful means of maintaining power structures itd
education
creating a docile work force for capitalism. The purpose of
those
is to maintain social inequality and to preserve the power of
who dominate society and teach those in the working class to accept
their position as a lower cass worker of society. Conflict theorists
socializes
call this the "hidden curriculum". The "hidden" curriculum
young people into obedience and conformity for them to be developed
as docile workers.
Functionalists disagree strongly. They assert that
if schools
teach adherence to policies, obedience to rules, respect for persons
and honesty, civil right it is
including authorities, punctuality
dear to a democratic way of
because they are the very principles
the workers remain docile,
life. It is not because they want to make
subservient forever while those in power
remain
unquestioning and
in power.

3. The symbolic
interactionist theory perspective
Three tenets of symbolic
interactionist theory are:

action depends meaning. We act based on

on
1) An individual's
the meaning we give
to symbols. Symbols can be actions, objects
understands that teacher believes in his
a student
or words. If
his/her best prove that indeed he/she
tries
/her ability he/she a student tends to behave in
is able. If a teacher does otherwise,
with teacher's poor perception.
accordance

different meanings to the same

Different people may give
2) are strict, some students see it as an
thing, When teachers
may rebel because they perceive
Others
expression of
care.
as limiting their moves and
desires. A
teacher's behavior
look at a tree and starts estimating how
much
businessman may
he has the tree cut down for lumber. A
can get it
money he at it with the thought, "they also
philosopher or poet may look like John Milton's from his poem
a
stand and Wait
serve who only
"On his Blindness".
40
with one anoth
as
3) Meanings changethat
individuals interact

used to associate with

other. A
hospitalA
negative meaning you
which looked more a s a hotel
vhen
you went to
a hospital the
usual hospital you know
is changed. After you taught
have
as boring is nged to teach
changed well,
your first impression of teaching
is exciting.

Implications to Teaching
Let us continue to teach for meaning. Let us promote and create
ate
opportunities for genuine interaction among our students, teachers,
between students and teachers. Interaction does not only mean
dealing with warm bodies. Interaction includes reading, listening,
viewing. Other people's views and meanings are conveyed in what
they have written, in speeches and lectures they have delivered.
Let us use positive symbols i n the form
of gestures, words,
actions, and appearances to express our trust, belief in our
students' abilities, an affirmation of their being. In fact, our belief in
our students also has positive effect in us. We find ourselves more
prepared in class, more caring, truly professional
Thesymbolic interactionist perspective, also known as
symbolic interactionism, directs sociologists to consider the
symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and
how people interact with each other.
As the term implies, symbolic interactionist theory states that
people interact withone another
through symbols. Language is
a
predominat symbol among people. According to the symbolic
interactionist perspective, people attach
and then they act meanings to symbols,
according
these symbols. Verbal
totheir subjective
interpretation or
as the
conversations, in which
spoken words serve
predominant symbols, make this
especially evident. The words subjective interpretation
"sender," and, during effective have a certain meaning for tne
have the same communication, they hopefully
meaning for the "receiver." In
"things"; they require intention other
are not static terms, Words
Conversation is an interaction of and
interpretation
constantly interpret the world symbols between individuals W
around them. To
understanding, the sender of the
symbol
ensure muu al
symbol must give the same and the receiver of
uof
misunderstanding. meaning to the symbol or run the risk
Faulty communication can
perception of the same result from the
this in your events and differences
symbols. Did you exper
activity of giving symbols
ace

looked at your symbol as of caring? While

care, your
partner something
may have not expressing your 1ov
understood it that way at
 to Education
Chapter 3- Social Science Theories and Their Implications

all. This happens in real life. It is important that our symbols

are understood
by others in the way they were intended to be.
by be.
Sometimes it happens in the language (which is a symbol) we speak
Often we are misunderstood or we misunderstand others. So let's
keep on communicating.

Weakness of Symbolic Interaction Theory

Critics claim that symbolic interactionism neglects the macro
level of social interpretation-the "big picture." In other words,
symbolic interactionists may miss the larger issues of society by
too on the "trees" or by restricting themselves to
closely
focusing
small or individual interactions.
interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber's
Symbolic
assertion that individuals act according to their interpretation
of the
was the American philosopher
meaning of their world. However, it
introduced this perspective to
George H. Mead (1863-1931) who
American sociology in the 1920s.