Concepts
The more informal or implicit lessons conveyed through schooling.
What is hidden curriculum?
Core assumptions include that schools are meritocratic, and that there is generally a consensus in society about goals and beliefs.
What is Structural Functionalism?
One of the earliest sociologists to study education, to better understand how society can remain stable despite immense changes.
Who is Émile Durkheim?
Concept used by Weber to describe the process that involves science, technical knowledge and other forms of systemic planning to achieve predetermined objectives. Leads to disenchantment in modern life.
What is Rationalization?
Schools have become more like ‘sausage factories’ than actually supporting students to expand their education.
What is Marxism/Neo-Marxism?
Expanded on Marx’s view to see class, status, and party as basis for social conflicts, in education and elsewhere.
Who is Max Weber?
The increasing requirement, over time, to gain higher levels of education for the same types of work.
What is Credentialism?
Schooling is seen as multi-dimensional and always subject to contestation.
What is Conflict Theory or Resistance Theory?
American sociologist who took up and expanded on Durkheim’s work. Portrays schools as social systems that reflect and and serve the interests of society.
Who is Talcott Parsons?
A core concept used by Pierre Bourdieu to describe the accumulation of dominant forms of knowledge, which can be used to support school success for those from more elite groups.
What is Cultural Capital?
Places questions about gender and strategies to foster democratic social change at the heart of our understanding of the social world.
What is feminist pedagogy/theory?
French sociologist who built on Weber’s work. Developed the concepts of field, habitus, and capital, amongst others. Extensively studied the role of education in social reproduction.
Who is Pierre Bourdieu?
A concept developed by Bowles & Gintis to explain how educational goals in different eras correspond with the needs of capitalism.
What is the Correspondence Principle?
Aims to close the gap between understanding how education reproduces inequality and taking actions to transform schools for the better.
What is Critical Pedagogy?
School of thought that developed foundational ideas of educational progressivism, e.g. John Dewey’s democratic education.
What is the Chicago School?