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Social Theories on Education

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Submitted By jbear1234
Words 2321
Pages 10
Jurrell D. Harrison
The Impact Of Sociological Theories In Education
Introduction to Sociology
Professor Whited
Monday February 13th 2012

Education is often considered as the most important aspect of an individual’s life. Education essentially shapes a person’s future. Without an education, moreover a good education, in today’s economy people would struggle in everyday life just to make ends meet. In fact, according to statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, on a survey taken by 11,437 people in January 2011, is 16.5%. That is a staggering 1,892 people who are unemployed because they do not have adequate education. Thus it is therefore evident that an education, or some education is paramount to a person’s success or accomplishments in life. There are three theories that help understand education. Although most view these theories as opinions, these theories support the need for education by allowing society to better understand education and they demonstrate or help identify what education really is. The three theories that are important for purposes of this paper are: Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism. These three theories play a vital role in helping understand education and why it is so important. Contrary to most beliefs, the theories previously mention are not simply one man’s opinions, rather they give a prime meaning to the necessity of education. Traditionally, American education has served both political and economic needs, which dictated the function of education. Today, sociologists and educators debate the function of education. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” (King Jr. 1947)

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