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Social Institutions: Exercise 2 - Education as a social institution
Instructions:
Read the passage and click on the correct answer. Scroll down
if you do not see the Answer box. If wrong, try again. Click
here to review the key terms for this exercise.
While one function of schools is to
teach students basic skills such as reading, writing and math, schools
also serve socialization, social integration and
social placement functions.
In schools, students learn their society's
cultural values, beliefs and accepted language and behaviors. This
is known as the socialization function of schools. For example,
students are taught the value of discipline, hard work, respect for
authority, pride in their country, etc. These values help students
fit into their society.
The socialization process that occurs
in schools results in another function of schooling: social integration.
Learning cultural values in school gives people a sense of shared
national identity. This shared identity brings large groups of different
people together, which helps to form one unified society. The social
integration function of schools is especially important in culturally
diverse societies, such as the U.S.
Another function of schools is to prepare
students for their future social positions. This is known as the social
placement function of schools. According to some sociologists,
schools prepare students for their future social position by identifying
and developing each student's talents and abilities, regardless of
the student's social position. Other sociologists state that it is
not merit (talent or achievement) that determines the social position
students are prepared to fill. According to these sociologists, the
students' future social positions are determined by their current
positions in society, which the schools try to preserve. For example,
wealthier parents send their kids to better schools, which prepare
students better, regardless of the students' abilities. This better
preparation ensures a higher future social position for their kids.
Instructions:
Read the passage and click on the correct answer. Scroll down
if you do not see the Answer box. If wrong, try again.
