Acknowledging the Land

Recognize the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton peoples, as connected to the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

Exam Overview

Exam Format

• Expect approximately 80 multiple-choice questions.

• Cumulative exam format reflecting concepts from Weeks 1-12.

• Before Mid-Term: About 12 questions total.

• Weeks 8-12: Expect about 12-15 questions for each week.

Exam Preparation

• Readings and Lectures: 25% from the readings, 50% from lectures, and 25% will involve Q&A sessions for clarification.

• Scheduled exam review sessions to address student questions through a virtual meeting.

Educational Priorities

The Schooled Society

• Focus on the functionalist perspective in understanding the roles education plays in society.

• Examine both manifest (intended) and latent (unintended) functions of education.

Key Issues in Education

1. Inequalities in Education

   • Explore economic, social, and cultural capital that affect educational outcomes.

   • Discuss the impact of the Pygmalion effect on student expectations and outcomes.

2. Emerging Issues

   • Address current challenges such as student debt and the integration of AI technologies like ChatGPT in education.

The Impact of the Schooled Society

Growth in Education

• Increased enrollment in post-secondary education in Canada, particularly among younger populations compared to older generations.

Importance of Education

• Government's view: Education enhances national productivity and addresses the demand for jobs requiring higher qualifications.

• Transition toward a knowledge economy signifies the growing need for higher education.

Modern Educational Functions

Diversity in Educational Functions

• Historical role of education was limited to basic literacy skills.

• Modern education now includes diverse subjects like physical education, media literacy, and environmental awareness.

• Example: Other initiatives like French immersion were designed to promote national integration, while contemporary programs may reflect broader multicultural goals.

Issues of Inequality

• Growing privatization of education leads to unequal outcomes.

• Higher educational attainment in private institutions often correlates with student socioeconomic status.

Sociological Perspectives on Education

Manifest Functions

• Clear, intended effects of education: Acquisition of essential skills and preparation for workforce participation.

Latent Functions

• Unintended consequences of education include instilling social ideologies and reproducing existing inequalities within society.

Functions of Education - Theoretical Views

Socialization (Durkheim)

• Educates children on citizenship and societal values, promoting cohesion and moral responsibility.

Selection (Weber)

• Inequitable sorting processes create barriers, determining which students have access to further opportunities based on merit and credentials.

Legitimation (Marx)

• Education serves to reproduce class structures and maintain the interests of the ruling class, perpetuating social inequalities across generations.

Inequality in Education

Macro-Level Factors

• Overall educational outcomes are heavily influenced by socioeconomic background, especially parental income levels.

• High-income families are more likely to attain post-secondary education thus perpetuating cycles of privilege.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Economic inequalities intensified, with lower-income students experiencing greater academic detriment during the pandemic, leading to higher delays in graduation and GPA declines.

Micro-Level Inequalities

The Pygmalion Effect

• Teacher biases based on expectations can significantly mold student performance; research indicates that positive teacher attitudes lead to improved outcomes for perceived high-potential students.

• Self-fulfilling prophecies in educational settings highlight the critical roles of teacher-student interactions.

Gender Inequality in Education

• Changing patterns of educational attainment show a rise in female higher education enrollment since the 1990s, while economic disparities in earnings persist, with men typically earning more across education levels.

• A comprehensive understanding considers broader issues of gender roles, socialization, and biases affecting opportunities for success and earnings.

Conclusion

• The education system plays a crucial role in shaping social inequalities.

• Diverse educational contexts and expectations deeply influence individual student outcomes while reflecting larger social structures.

• The interplay between personal and public issues underscores the necessity of a sociological perspective in understanding and addressing educational inequality.