Religion and Education Michael Itagaki Sociology 101 Introduction

Religion and Education Michael Itagaki Sociology 101, Introduction to Sociology

Religion n “Only the heart can hold the intangible…” u Help us answer questions science can’t existence of God « the purpose of life « morality « u Irreplaceable

Religion n Durkheim’s three elements of religion u u u Beliefs Practices Moral community

Religion: Functionalist view n Functions of religion u u Answer “meaning of life” questions Provide emotional comfort Unite community that shares values Provide guidelines for life.

Religion: Functionalist view n Functions of religion u u Control behavior Help people adapt to new environments Provide support for the government Spearhead social change

Religion-Functionalist view n Dysfunctions u u War Persecution

Religion: Symbolic Interactionist View n n n Symbols Rituals Beliefs

Religion: Symbolic Interactionist View n Symbols u Shared meaning, solidarity

Religion: Symbolic Interactionist View n Rituals u u Repetitive practices Moral community: closeness to God, foster unity within group

Religion: Symbolic Interactionist View n Beliefs u Values; Cosmology

Religion: Symbolic Interactionist View n n n Symbols Rituals Beliefs

Religion: Conflict View n n Critical of religion Marx u u u Repressed workers retreat to religion “Opium of the people” Legitimation of social inequality

Religion: In the United States n n Weber: Protestant Work Ethic Stratification u u Diversity 10 am-11 am on Sundays: Most segregated hour in the United States

Education and Industrialization n Credential societies u u Diplomas, degrees = sorting devices Education related to economy

Education and Functionalism n n Teaching knowledge and skills Manifest function u n Transmit knowledge Latent functions u u u Maintain social control Cultural transmission of values Social integration

Education and Functionalism n Latent functions u u Maintain social control Cultural transmission of values Social integration Gatekeeping Meritocracy: Who can work where? « Tracking: Vocational vs. Ivy League? «

Education and Conflict Theory n System perpetuates social inequality u u u Funneling effects Income Education Family over achievement Figure 13. 2 - The Funneling Effects of Education: Race and Ethnicity. Page 349

Education and Conflict Theory n n System perpetuates social inequality Hidden curriculum u u Obedience to authority Conformity to norms

Education and Conflict Theory n Hidden curriculum: Ex. language and “manners” u Social class lines: middle vs. working u

Education and Conflict Theory n Hidden curriculum: u “Breaking through Barriers” p. 353 -54; 508 -09

Education and Conflict Theory n Cultural bias IQ or SAT test scores u A symphony is to a composer as a book is to a(n) ______. a) paper b) sculptor c) musician d) author e) man u

Education and Conflict Theory n Tracking revisited u u Reinforcement of inequality? Social class Elite = More $$, more time to study « School: derived from Greek word for leisure «

Education and Symbolic Interactionism n Teachers’ expectations impact students u Rist Research « Divide class into groups: fast, avg, slow • Social class basis for splits High achievers: High expectations; Low expectations: low achievement « Labels followed children through school « • Self-fulfilling prophecy

Agency and Interactionism SOCIETY INDIVIDUAL