CHAPTER 3: Social Science Theories and Their According to this theory, there are always

Implications to Education two opposing sides in a conflict situation. People

take sides between maintaining the status quo and
Introduction:
introducing change then arrive at an agreement.
Sociologists today employ three primary Conflict theory welcomes conflict for that is the way
theoretical perspective: to the establishment of a new society.

The functionalist perspective, the conflict How Proponents of Conflict Theory Regard
perspective and the symbolic interactionist Education
perspective. These perspectives offer sociologist
According to the conflict theory, education is not
theoretical paradigms for explaining how society
truly a social benefit or opportunity as seen by the
influences people, and how people influence society.
functionalists. Rather, education is a powerful means
Each perspective uniquely conceptualizes society,
of maintaining power structures and creating a
social forces, and human behavior.
docile work force for capitalism.
3. The Symbolic Interactionist Theory Perspective
Three Social Theories
Three tenets of symbolic interactionist
1. Structural-function Theory
theory are:
Herbert Spencer, the proponent of structural-
1. An individual’s action depends on meaning - We
functional views society as “a system of
act based on the meaning we give to symbols.
interconnected parts each with a unique function.
Symbols can be actions, objects or words.
The parts have to work together for stability and
balance of society.” Society is compared to the 2. Different people may give different meanings to
human body with different but interrelated parts the same thing - When teachers are strict, some
performing different function. students see it as an expression of care. Others may
rebel because they perceive teacher’s behavior as
Purposes of Schooling according to Functionalists
limiting their moves and desires.
1. Intellectual purposes - acquisition of cognitive
3. Meanings change as individuals interact with one
skills, inquiry skills
another - A negative meaning that you used to
2. Political purposes - educate future citizens; associate with hospital when you went to a hospital
promote patriotism; promote assimilation of which looked more as a hotel than the usual hospital
immigrants; ensure order, public civility and you know is changed.
conformity to laws
3. Economic purposes - prepare students for later
work roles; select and train the labor force needed
by society
4. Social purposes - promote a sense of social and
moral responsibility; serve as a site for the solution
or resolution of social problems; supplement the
efforts of other institutions of socialization such as Weakness of Symbolic Interaction Theory
the family and the church
Critics claim that symbolic interactionism
neglects the macro level of social interpretation the
“big picture.” In other words, symbolic
2. Conflict Theory
interactionists may miss the larger issues of society
by focusing too closely on the “trees” or by
restricting themselves to small or individual
interactions.
Symbolic interactionism traces its origins to
Max Weber’s assertion that individuals act according
to their interpretation of the meaning of their world.
However, it was the American philosopher George H.
Mead (1863-1931) who introduced this perspective
to American sociology in the 1920s.
CHAPTER 4: The weaknesses of the Filipino
character as cited in the Report are as follows:
1. Extreme family centeredness
- Excessive concern for family means using one's
office and power to promote family interests and
thus factionalism patronage, political dynasties and
the protection of erring family members. It results in
lack of concern for the common good, and acts as a
block to national consciousness.
2. Extreme personalism
- Takes things personally, cannot separate objective
task from emotional involvement. Because of this
the Filipino is uncomfortable with bureaucracy, with
rules and regulations and with standard procedures.
He uses person- al contacts, and gives preference to
family and friends in hiring, services and even voting.
Extreme personalism leads to the graft and
corruption evident in Philippine society.
3. Lack of discipline
- A casual attitude toward time and space,
manifested in lack of precision and compulsiveness,
in poor time management and procrastination.
Aversion to following procedures strictly results in
lack of standardization and equality control.
Impatience results in short cuts, palusot, ningas
cogon. Lack of discipline often results to inefficient
work systems, the violation of rules and a casual
work ethic lacking follow through.
4. Passivity and lack of initiative
- Waiting to be told what to do, reliance on others
(leaders and government), complacence, lack of a
sense of urgency. There is high tolerance of
inefficiency, poor service, and even violations of
one's basic right. Too patient and matiisin, too easily
resigned to his fate, the Filipino is easily oppressed
and exploited.
5. Colonial mentality
- Lack of patriotism, or of an active awareness,
appreciation and love of the Philippines and an
actual preference for things foreign.
6. Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality
 - Done by tsismis, intriga, unconstructive criticism...
it is evident in the personal ambition that is
completely insensitive to the common good, e.g., the
lack of a sense of service among people in the
government bureaucracy. This results in the
dampening of cooperative and community spirit, and
in the trampling upon other's rights.
7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
- The tendecy to be superficial and some what
flighty. In the dace of serious personal and social
problems, there is lack of analysis or reflection, and
instead satisfication with superficial explanations
and solutions.
8. Emphasis on porma rather than substance
- This lack of analysis and emphasis on form is
reinforced by an educational system that is more
from than substance.
The Filipino Character: Strengths and Weaknesses
In 1998 Senator Leticia Shahani submitted to the
Senate t Report titled "A Moral Recovery Program:
Building a People, Building a Nation. This report cites
the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino
character.
The strengths of the Filipino character are:
1) pakikipagkapwa-tao,
2) Family orientation,
3) joy and humor,
4) flexibility, adaptability and creativity,
5) hard work and industry,
6) ) faith and religiosity
7) ability to survive.
The Filipino character also has weaknesses:
1) extreme family centeredness,
2) extreme personalism,
3) lack of discipline.
4) passivity and lack of initiative,
5) colonial mentality,
6) kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality,
7) lack of self-analysis and self- reflection
8) emphasis on porma rather than substance.
There is so much good in the Filipino but so much needs
to be changed, too. Shahani's report (1988) explains that
family orientation becomes in-group orientation that
prevents us from reaching out beyond the family to the
larger community and the nation. In our personalism, we
are warm and caring but this leads us to lack of
objectivity. We are concerned with people we know but
unfair to people we don't know. In our flexibility, we
compromise precision and discipline. We are a joyful
people with a sense of humor but we can't take things
with humor all the time for serious problems need
serious analysis. Our faith in God is our source of strength
but this makes us dependent on forces outside us, do
nothing that makes us submissive to God's will. We are
good at pakikipagkapwa-tao and so we can easily
empathize but we can at the same time be envious of
others. We can be hardworking and yet can be lazy and
passive in the workplace.
CHAPTER 5: The Top Ten Global Issues and how
they can be addressed
1. Climate Change- The global temperature are
rising, and are estimated to increase from 2.6
degrees Celsius to 4.8 degrees Celsius by
2100. This would cause more severe
weather, crises with food and resources and
the spread of diseases. Lobbying
 governments and discussing policies to
reduce carbon emissions and encouraging
reforestation is an effective way of making
progress with climate change.
2. Pollution - pollution include ocean litter,
pesticides and fertilizer, air, light and noise
pollution. Clean water is essential for humans
and animals, but more than one billion
people don’t have access to clean water due
to pollution from toxic substances, sewage or
industrial water.
3. Violence – violence can be found in the
social, cultural and economic aspects of the
world. Whether it is conflict that has broken
out in a city, hatred targeted at a certain
group of people or sexual harassment
occurring on the street, violence is
preventable problem.
4. Security and Well-Being- the U. N is a perfect
example of what should be done to prevent
the lack of security and well-being a serious
global issue. Through its effort with regional
organizations and representatives that are
skilled in security, the U. N is working toward
increasing the well-being of people
throughout the world.
5. Lack of Education – more than 72 million
children throughout the globe that are of the
age to be in primary education are not
enrolled in school. This can be attributed to
inequality and marginalization as well as
poverty.
6. Unemployment – without the necessary
education and skills for employment many
people, particularly 15 to 24 years old,
struggle to find jobs and create a proper
living for themselves and their families.
7. Government Corruptions – corruption is a
major cause of poverty considering how it
affects the poor the most, eroding political
and economic development, democracy and
more.
8. Malnourishment and Hunger- long-term
success to ending world hunger starts with
ending poverty. By fighting poverty through
proper training for employment education
and the teaching of cooking and gardening
skills, people who are suffering will be more
likely to get jobs, earn enough money to buy
food and even learn how to make their own
food to save money.
9. Terrorism – terrorism is an issue throughout
the world that causes fear and insecurity,
violence and death. Across the globe,
terrorists attack innocent people, often
without warning.
10. The 17 SDGs – UN secretary –general, Ban Ki-
moon, said: “ the seventeen sustainable
development goals are our shared vision of
humanity and a social contract between the
word’s leaders and the people. They are to-
do list for people and planet and a blueprint
for success.