ESC3701
Assignment 4
Due July/ August 2024
, The Role of the School as a Socialisation Agent in Society
Introduction: The School as an Organisation and Socialisation Agent in
Society
Schools are an overdue socialisation agent in society, and through their function,
they shape people along with societal values and norms. Schools are organized
institutions that operate in a most systematic manner, teaching not only purely
academic knowledge but also cultural, moral, and social values (Durkheim, 1956).
This dual role underscores their significance in the broader social fabric. It is via
interaction with teachers, peers, the educational curriculum that students learn to
navigate social norms, internalize societal values, and develop a sense of self —
Mead 1934. Through this process of socialisation, creation of a 'social self' occurs
that helps individuals fit into society and contribute towards it.
The Different Functions of the School
Schools are considered to do much more than transfer knowledge. The most
important functions among others could be clearly stated as:
1. Educational Function: In the schools, there exists a structured setting through
which students pursue learning in scores of topic areas, enhancing their
cognitive development and thinking processes in the process of solving
problems (Parsons, 1959).
2. Socialization Function: Schools make their students aware of societal norms,
values, and expectations via formal and informal interactions and hence
prepare them for their social, economic, and political life accordingly
(Durkheim, 1956).
3. Cultural Transmission: The school does much in the preservation and
transmission of culture, language, traditions, and heritage (Bernstein, 1971).
4. Social Integration: Schools bring together students from different
backgrounds, thus promoting social cohesion and intergroup understanding
across cultural and social divisions (Parsons, 1959).
5. Selection and Allocation: The school, by the process of evaluation and sorting
of students, engages in social stratification, wherein future possibilities of
further education and career options are determined by the said evaluation
and sorting methods (Collins, 1979).
6. Personal Development: Schools provide all-round development of an
individual, developing social skills, self-discipline, and self-esteem (Erikson,
1968).
Functionalism and Schooling
The functionalist theory perceives school as an integral social institution that
preserves social order and social stability. Functionalists argue that school has a
number of crucial functions:
Assignment 4
Due July/ August 2024
, The Role of the School as a Socialisation Agent in Society
Introduction: The School as an Organisation and Socialisation Agent in
Society
Schools are an overdue socialisation agent in society, and through their function,
they shape people along with societal values and norms. Schools are organized
institutions that operate in a most systematic manner, teaching not only purely
academic knowledge but also cultural, moral, and social values (Durkheim, 1956).
This dual role underscores their significance in the broader social fabric. It is via
interaction with teachers, peers, the educational curriculum that students learn to
navigate social norms, internalize societal values, and develop a sense of self —
Mead 1934. Through this process of socialisation, creation of a 'social self' occurs
that helps individuals fit into society and contribute towards it.
The Different Functions of the School
Schools are considered to do much more than transfer knowledge. The most
important functions among others could be clearly stated as:
1. Educational Function: In the schools, there exists a structured setting through
which students pursue learning in scores of topic areas, enhancing their
cognitive development and thinking processes in the process of solving
problems (Parsons, 1959).
2. Socialization Function: Schools make their students aware of societal norms,
values, and expectations via formal and informal interactions and hence
prepare them for their social, economic, and political life accordingly
(Durkheim, 1956).
3. Cultural Transmission: The school does much in the preservation and
transmission of culture, language, traditions, and heritage (Bernstein, 1971).
4. Social Integration: Schools bring together students from different
backgrounds, thus promoting social cohesion and intergroup understanding
across cultural and social divisions (Parsons, 1959).
5. Selection and Allocation: The school, by the process of evaluation and sorting
of students, engages in social stratification, wherein future possibilities of
further education and career options are determined by the said evaluation
and sorting methods (Collins, 1979).
6. Personal Development: Schools provide all-round development of an
individual, developing social skills, self-discipline, and self-esteem (Erikson,
1968).
Functionalism and Schooling
The functionalist theory perceives school as an integral social institution that
preserves social order and social stability. Functionalists argue that school has a
number of crucial functions:
