Professional Education 5:

The Teacher and the Community, School Culture, and Organizational Leadership

Chapter 3

Social Science Theories and Their Implications to Education

Submitted by:

BSED II-MATH A

Almirol, Stephanie A

Capariño, Ara B

Gajunera, Samantha N

Marfil, Maye B

Nallos, Mary Joy A

Samson, Dessa Mae R

Submitted to:

Dr. Myrla B. Dayap

Instructor
CHAPTER 3. SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS TO

EDUCATION

Objectives:

At the end of this chapter, students are expected to:

 Define the three primary theoretical perspectives;

 Analyze and provide examples for each of the three theories;
 Explore how factors like race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other social
dimensions intersect with these theories, recognizing its impact to learners and on
education;
 Explain how social sciences theories influence educational practices policies and
systems; and
 Apply the learnings.

Vocabulary:

 Society- the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.

 People-the aggregate of individuals living together in a more or less ordered community.

 Sociologist-study human behavior, interaction, and organization.

Introduction

Sociologists today employ three primary theoretical perspectives: the functionalist

perspective, the conflict perspective and the symbolic interactionist perspective. These
perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences
people, and how people influence society. Each perspective uniquely conceptualizes society,
social forces, and human behavior.

CONFLICT
PERSPECTIVE

PEOPLE SOCIETY
 Let sing this song: Dem Bones

(Refer to: https://youtu.be/YjJONLPzGfY?si=HM88OpCBbvNM9nZ0 for the melody.)

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, The hip bone’s connected to the back bone,

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, The back bone’s connected to the neck bone,

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, The neck bone’s connected to the head bone,

Now shake dem skeleton bones! Now shake dem skeleton bones!

The toe bone’s connected to the foot bone, The finger bone’s connected to the hand bone,

The foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone, The hand bone’s connected to the arm bone,

The ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone, The arm bone’s connected to the shoulder

bone,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!

Now shake dem skeleton bones!

The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone,

The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone,

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around,

The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone,

Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk around,

Now shake dem skeleton bones!

Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk around,

Now shake dem skeleton bones!

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,

Now shake dem skeleton bones!

ABSTRACTION—LET’S CONCEPTUALIZE
 The Dem Bones song introduces us to one of the three (3) social theories we shall learn in

this Chapter, the functionalist theory.

Three Social Theories

1. Structural Functionalist Theory

Herbert Spencer, the proponent of

structural-functional views society as “a

system of interconnected parts each with

unique function. The parts have to work

together for stability and balance of

society.” Society compared to the human

body with different but interrelated parts

performing different functions. Just as the

human body has many parts, society has Herbert Spencer

different but interrelated components such as the family, the state, the school, the church,

mass media, and economics. These must coordinate and collaborate for society to function

well. If one part of the human body does not function well, the whole body is affected. In the

same way, when one component of society does not do its part, society will not function well.

The overall health of the organism (society) depends upon the health of each structure.

This is exactly the message of the song Dem Bone. The bones are interconnected. Each

has a unique function.

There is peace, stability, equilibrium and harmony in society if families do their part in

bringing forth children, nurturing and socializing them; if education or schools effectively

transmit knowledge, skills and values; if politics governs citizens well; if economics takes

care of food production, distribution of goods and services and if religion strengthens the

moral fiber of the members of the society. Failure of one social institution to do its part

means disruption of stability in society. For example, the rise of single parent and dual

earner families means families have less time or sometimes no more time left for the
supervision of children in theory homework which may result to an increase of non-

performing students in school.

The Functionalist Theory of Education focuses on how education serves the need of

society through the development of skills encouraging social cohesion. The Role of Schools

is to prepare students for participation in the institution of society. Education is concerned

with transmission of core values for social control. Education is concerned with socializing

people by bringing together people from different background. The functionalist theory is

focused on the 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 change 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 lack of parental advice from home.

Purposes of Schooling according to Functionalists

The purpose 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 roles; select and train the labor force

need 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 the family and church

Summary: Functionalism is a theory of society that focuses on the structures that create

the society and on how the society is able to remain stable. Functionalists are for stability

and a state of equilibrium in society. To main this state of stability, various institutions are

expected to do their part. For the functionalists, change is necessary only when things get

unstable.
2. Conflict Theory

According to this theory, there are always two opposing sides in a conflict situation.

People take sides between maintaining the status quo and introducing change then arrive at

an agreement. Conflict theorists welcome conflict for that is the way to the establishment of a

new society. Conflict theories find potential conflict between any groups where inequality

exists racial, gender, religious, politics, economic, and so on. Conflict theorists note that

unequal groups usually have conflicting values and agendas, causing them to compete

against one another. This constant competition between groups forms the basis for the ever-

changing nature of society.

How Proponents of Conflict Theory Regard Education

According to the conflict theory, education is not truly social benefit or opportunity as

seen by the functionalists. Rather, education is a powerful means of maintaining power

structures and creating a docile work for capitalism. The purpose of education is to maintain

social inequality and to preserve the powers of these who dominate society and teach those in

the working class to accept their position as a lower class worker of society. Conflict theorists

call this the hidden curriculum”. The “hidden” curriculum socializes 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 including authorities, punctuality and honesty, civil

right it is because they are the very principles dear to a democratic way of life. It is not

because they want to make the workers remain docile, unquestioning and subservient forever

while those in power remain in power.

School has School is not truly

social purposes! social benefit or
opportunity!

FUNCTIONALIST THEORY CONFLICT THEORY

Theory Structural Functionalist Theory Conflict Theory

View to Education  Schools has societal  School is not truly social

purposes. benefit or opportunity.

 It teaches adherence to  It is a powerful means of

policies, obedience to maintaining power

rules, respect for persons structures and creating a

including authorities, docile work for capitalism.

punctuality and honesty,

civil right.

Summary: The conflict theory welcomes conflict for conflict paves the way to change, to
the establishment of a new society.

3. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Three tenets of symbolic interactionist theory are:

1. An Individual’s Action Depend on Meaning. We act based on meaning we give to

symbols. Symbols can be actions, words or objects.
Example: If a student understands that the teacher in his/her ability, he/she tries his/her
best to prove that indeed he/she is able. If a teacher does otherwise, a student tends to
behave in accordance with the teacher’s poor perception.

2. Different people may give different meanings to the same thing. When teachers are
strict, some students see it as an expression of care. Others, may rebel because they
perceive the teacher’s behavior as limiting their moves and desires.
Example: A businessman may look at a tree and starts estimating how much money he
can get if he gets a tree cut down from a lumber. A philosopher or a poet may look at it
with the thought, “They also serve who stand and wait” like John Milton’s from his poem
“On his Blindness”
3. Meanings change as individuals continue to interact with one another. A negative
meaning that you use to associate hospital when you went to a hospital which looked
more as a hotel than the usual hospital you know is changed. After you have taught well
your first impression of teaching as boring is changed to teaching is exciting.

Implication of Teaching
• Symbolic interactionist perspective -also known as symbolic interactionism,
directs sociologists to consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what
this symbols mean, and how people interact with each other.
• Language -a predominant symbol among people.
• The words has a certain meaning for the “sender” during effective
communication.
• Words are not “static” things. They require intention and interpretation.
• The sender of the symbol and receiver of the symbol must give same meaning
to the symbol to ensure mutual understanding.
• Faulty communication can result from differences in the perception of the
same events and symbols.
• Interaction includes reading, listening, and viewing.
• Others people’s views and meanings are conveyed in what they have written,
in speeches and lectures they have delivered.
• Use positive symbols- in form of gestures, words, actions and appearance to
express trust, belief in students’ abilities, an affirmation of their being.

Weaknesses of Symbolic Interaction Theory

Critics Claim the symbolic interactionism neglect the macro level of social
interpretation-the "BIG PICTURE". In other words symbolic interactionism may miss the
larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the "trees" or by restricting themselves
to small or individual interaction.
Symbolic interactionism traces its origin to Max Weber's assertion that individual
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 1920's.

George H. Mead Max Weber

Proponent of Conflict Theory Inspiration of Conflict Theory

 Summary: Symbolic-interactionist theory is focused on individual’s experience.
These meanings are not permanent. They change over time as the individual
continues to interact with others and with symbols.

APPLICATION–LET’S APPLY

1. The purposes of schooling according to the functionalist theory are:

 Intellectual purposes – acquisition of cognitive skills, inquiry skills

 Political purposes – educate future citizens: promote patriotism; promote

assimilation of immigrants; ensure order, public civility and conformity to laws

 Economic purposes – prepare students for later work roles; select and train the labor

force need by society

 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 the family and church

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.