SOCIOLOGY OF

EDUCATION
Introductory Concept
You will learn about…
 The meaning of Education and Sociology  Educational Sociology and Curriculum
 The relation between Sociology and  Educational Sociology and Method of
Education teaching
 Nature of Educational Sociology  Educational Sociology and the Teacher
 Scope of Educational Sociology
Meaning of Education
The etymological meaning of the
English word ‘Education’ has come
from two Latin words- Educare
(Educere) and Educatum. “Educare”
means to train or mould. It means to
bring up or lead out or to draw out. The
term “Educatum” denotes the act of
teaching. It throws light on the
principles and practice of teaching. The
term Educare or Educere chiefly
connotes development of the latent
possibilities or faculties of the child.
• Education is the manifestation of
perfection already in man. Like fire in
a piece of flint, knowledge exists in
the mind. Suggestion is the friction
which brings it out. - Swami
Vivekananda
• The highest education is that which
does not merely give us information
but makes our life in harmony with all
existence. - Rabindranath
Meaning of Sociology
Etymological meaning Emergence of Sociology

The study of human society and social behavior in a  Comte called sociology “the queen of all
scientific way is said to have begun with Auguste sciences” and recommended that sociology
Comte (1789- 1857), the French philosopher, who
should use the ‘positivist’ scientific method
coined the word ‘Sociology’ by combining the Greek
of observation, experimentation and
word “logos” (study of science) and the Latin word
comparison to understand social order and
“socius” (society).
However, the credit of founding sociology as a
promote progress.

separate discipline goes to the three titans who  Marx, Durkheim and Weber emphasized
came after Comte- Karl Marx (1818- 1883), Emile upon the role of economic, political and
Durkheim (1858- 1916) and Max Weber (1864- ideological elements in maintaining social
1920). order and promoting social change.
 Definition of Sociology
Definition

Sociology is the systematic (i.e. scientific or

objective) study of human social life, groups
and societies- giving special emphasis to
modern societies. It is also concerned with the
study of various social institutions found in all
societies (familial, educational, economic,
political and religious)- their nature, function,
interconnection and sequences of continuity
and change.
Educational Sociology
The father of Educational sociology is George Payne. It is said to be the study of
principles of sociology as applied to the theory and practice of education. It is new
science which applies sociological principles to the whole process of education.
Educational sociology utilizes total educational interaction which helps in the
personality development of the individual so that he becomes a better social
being. This science evolves methods and procedures, prepares plans and
programme in bringing abut the desired changes in behavior and attitude of the
students and the teachers. It involves the whole school community that includes
the students, the teachers, the parents, the administrators, social leaders and the
community people concerned with the whole of educative process. The
educational sociology also tries to search for a suitable solution for problems
related to society and education. This applied science throws light on different
institutions and on those social interactions which are of great importance in
educational process.
Definition of Educational Sociology
• Brown: All education proceed by the participation of the individual in the social
consciousness of the races.
• Ottaway's view: The sociology of education may be defined as a study of relations
between education and sociology. The education is an activity which goes on in a
society, and its aims and method depend on the nature of the society, in which it
takes place.
• George Penn: Educational sociology is a science which describes and discusses
processes of social relation which give experience to an individual and organizes a
society.
Definition of Educational Sociology
• Good: Educational sociology is the scientific study of how people live in social
group especially in the study of education that is obtained by living in the social
groups, and education that is needed by the members to live efficiently in social
groups.
• Cook and Cook: Educational Sociology is the study of human factors in the
educative process, with the aim to improve teaching and learning in all types of
educational systems.
• Robert Stalcup: Educational sociology is the application of general principles and
findings of sociology to the administration and process of education. This approach
attempts to apply principles of sociology to the instruction of education as a
separate social unit.
Sociological basis and aim of Education
According to the educational sociologists, the aim of education from the sociological
point of view is to develop those social qualities and social feelings in the child which
will enable him to grasp his responsibilities in the society and the nation, and to
become an ideal citizen of his country.
The aims of education from the sociological perspective are:
• Education for social service
• Education for citizenship
• Education for social efficiency
• Education for emotional integration
• Education for national unity
• Education for nationalism
• Education for patriotism
Nature of Educational Sociology
• As social beings, all men are equal. They cannot be discriminated on the basis of
birth, occupation, beliefs and place of living. Educational Sociology recognizes this
fundamental principle and makes education accessible to all persons without
distinction. She/ He is given opportunities to receive education to the maximum level
of his capacity.
• Culture which is the most important element of society is formally preserved and
transmitted in the school. Educational Sociology analyses the desirable and
undesirable aspects of culture by comparing them with the national and
international culture.
• It helps us to provide sound social bases for educational researches. Sociological
researches in education have special significance.
 Nature of Educational Sociology
• It helps in understanding the cultural ,economic ,social and political trends in relation to
formal and informal agencies of education.
• Educational sociology aims to develop a curriculum that will adequately socialize each
individual student .
• It tries to find out what would best contribute towards the child's personality
development and control the educative process to achieve personality development of
each single child.
• Educational sociology study the various types of social relationships and their impact
on individual development.
Thus nature of educational sociology is both theoretical and practical. It is the scientific
study of how people live in social groups, especially study of the education that is
obtained by living in social groups and the education that is needed by the member to
live efficiently in social groups.
Need for Educational Sociology
• The larger aims of sociology cannot be achieved without integrating the process of
education into it.
• Without making a micro study of social problems through education, we cannot think
of a macro solution.
• Educational sociology studies social processes and interactions very objectively. It is
essential to find solutions for educational problems.
• It is needed to foster social attitudes among people through education and to
improve human relationship.
• Educational sociology studies social activities and social institutions in the context of
future social needs also. It is, therefore, very helpful for the progress of education.
Need for Educational Sociology
• Educational sociology gives equal weightage to the development of the individual
as well as the society.
• Education and sociology are interrelated and interdependent. Sociology without
education is like a body without a soul and education without sociology is like a
vehicle without wheels. Hence, the combination of education and sociology, that
is, educational sociology is necessary for cultural and social development.
The combined approach of education and sociology is necessary in order to foster
social feelings among the people to achieve better human relationship.
Importance of Educational Sociology
• Educational sociology recognises the social nature of man and plans accordingly.
• It emphasises that all men are equal. There is no discrimination based on race, caste,
creed, colour and sex for any individual.
• It fosters cultural qualities which promote international understanding and welfare.
• It formulates rules and procedures which establish and develop social growth among
individuals.
• It secures for an individual self-reliance and self-development.
• It makes people understand their welfare and strive to achieve social good for all.
• School is the reflection of society because small and immature representatives of the
society will lead the society when they mature.
Importance of Educational Sociology

• Educational sociology helps the educationists in constructing the curriculum

keeping in view the socio-economic tendencies and demands of society.
• It helps us to provide sound social bases for educational researches.
• It analyses the causes of social and group conflicts and helps to remove them by
imparting suitable education.
• It prepares and develops the child for living independently in the society.
• It studies the social elements which affect the individual objectively, and apply
them in the educational environment of the school.
Relation between Sociology and
Education
• Sociology is the science of society and education in an implicit aspect of any social
system.
• Sociology studies the structure and functions of social system, while education is
one of the important function of the social system.
• The prime concern of sociology is socialized individuals. Education is the means for
achieving the goals of sociology.
• Education is the laboratory and workshop of sociology .
• Sociology attempts to ascertain the functions performed by the educational
system while education adopts the principles of sociology to improve its
functioning.
Relation between Sociology and
Education
• Sociology develops the law and principles which are adopted by the educational
system for its improvement.
• Education preserves the social and cultural heritage which is owned by sociology.
• Society is the prime factor in determining the educational patterns so that its
sociocultural needs may be satisfied and continues to grow.
• In the modern society ,sociology generates the data base which is consumed by
educational system to realize the goal of social life.
Scope of Educational Sociology
• Mutual relationship between teachers
and students and their impact on
teaching-learning process.
• It includes how culture is handed over
to coming generations through the
agencies of society.
• It includes how socialisation takes
place in the child as a result of social
interaction.
• It includes the role of mass media in
the educational process.
• It includes how education serves as a
means of social change and social
control.
• The impact of sociological thinking on the
various aspects of education.
• The place of the teacher in the society.
• Social aspirations, needs and problems and
their impact on education and life.
• Interrelationship of education and sociology.
• Social organisation and their role on
education and school administration.
• The place of school in the society and its
relationship with society and other small
organizations.
• Effects of social patterns and culture on
education.
Scope of Educational Sociology
• Progress of democratic values in
educational institutions
• Role of education in socialisation and
social change
• Social life in the school
• Promotion of social feeling in the
students
• Curriculum and needs of the society
• Equalisation of educational
opportunities.
• National integration
• New world order and its impact on
education in future
• School and community
• Role of mass media in education and
social progress
• Use of group and cooperative
methods of teaching
• Terrorism and fundamentalism in
relation to social change
Educational Sociology & Curriculum
• The curriculum should be such that it helps in achievement of the social aim of
education.
• The curriculum should be chosen on the basis of the problems and the needs of
society but it should also pay attention to the real problems and interest of the
pupils.
• Curriculum should be so organized and its relationship with instructional methods
should be such that the curriculum becomes an effective medium to keep control
over society.
• Through curriculum the cultural values should be brought to light and through it
the high ideals of the society should be transmitted to the new generation.
Educational Sociology & Curriculum
• The curriculum should be such that it develops an attitude of respect to all
vocations. It should develop a sense of dignity of labor among students.
• The stress should be on a futuristic social change rather than bringing immediate
change in an individuals behavior.
• The curriculum should be dynamic, flexible and changing in nature.
• The curriculum should able to develop a problem solving attitude among the
students. They should understand and solve the problem independently.
• There should be provision of social programs for participation in social life. The
curriculum should be flexible and changeable .It should change continuously
according to changing social objectives.
Educational Sociology & Curriculum
• Curriculum planning should be based on the problems and needs of society which
are based on the immediate concerns, problems and interest of pupils.
• The curriculum should reflect the basic cultural values of the society and should be
an agent in the transmission of the highest values.
• Curriculum should include subjects like music, art, vocational subjects, physical
education, language, physical sciences as well as biological sciences.
Educational Sociology & Method of
Teaching
• The method of instruction is effective only when the skill and knowledge acquired
in the classroom are actually used by the individual in the adjustment to social
situation . An individual should be able to achieve social correlation by the use of
knowledge and skills learnt in the school.
• The method of teaching should also stress on the social behavior of the student
outside the class.
• The method of teaching should make use of all possible social resources and social
operative force in the social life in order to develop the capacity in every individual
for social adjustment.
Educational Sociology & Method of
Teaching
• Sociologists suggest that teaching should be done through cultural and social
programs.
• While teaching, teacher will develop problem solving and constructive thinking .For
these socialized techniques, project and group methods fulfill most of the
conditions.
• Student react better to co-operative learning in which there is sharing in the
teaching learning process. Co-operative group patterns of learning lay emphasis on
group interaction.
• The social power currents in the society should be used in teaching system for
increasing the social co-relationship.
Educational Sociology & the Teacher
Teacher should be committed to society .He Should know the
main institution and powers that mainly influence a student. He
should know the instruments of social development, available in
extramural environment. He should have capacity to use this
knowledge in school education. A teacher should know about the
process of socialization among students ,the method of
interaction and programs for social development.
THANK YOU!