Teaching Social Expectations in Schools
TITLE
Explain how schools teach social expectations to students.
ESSAY
Title: How Schools Teach Social Expectations to Students
Introduction
In the field of sociology, schools play a significant role in shaping the social expectations of students as they navigate through the education system. This essay will delve into the various ways in which schools teach social expectations to students. The mechanisms include formal education, informal education, hidden curriculum, rewards, negative sanctions, teacher labelling, meritocracy, gender roles, and Marxist perspectives.
Formal Education
Formal education encompasses the structured curriculum content, lessons, and classroom rules that explicitly teach social expectations to students. Through subjects like social studies, civics, and ethics, students learn about societal norms, values, and roles that are deemed important for functioning in society.
Informal Education
Outside of formal education, students also learn social expectations through informal channels such as extra-curricular activities and social interactions. These platforms provide opportunities for students to understand the significance of traits like punctuality, following instructions, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Hidden Curriculum
One of the most significant ways in which schools teach social expectations is through the hidden curriculum. This refers to the implicit messages that are conveyed to students regarding norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors. For example, the emphasis on punctuality in schools reinforces the importance of timeliness in social interactions and professional settings.
Rewards and Negative Sanctions
Schools use a system of rewards and negative sanctions to encourage students to conform to social expectations. Positive behavior is reinforced through rewards such as praise, certificates, or privileges, while punishments are imposed for behaviors that deviate from societal norms. This mechanism aims to instill a sense of accountability and discipline in students.
Teacher Labelling
Teachers play a crucial role in shaping students' perceptions of themselves and others through their expectations and interactions. The practice of setting and streaming students based on perceived abilities can lead to the internalization of labels, influencing students' behaviors and academic performance.
Meritocracy
Functionalists argue that schools promote the idea of meritocracy, where students are taught that hard work, goal-setting, and good behavior lead to success. This ideology reinforces the belief that individuals will receive rewards based on their efforts and talents, aligning with broader social expectations of personal responsibility and achievement.
Gender Roles
Feminist perspectives highlight how schools contribute to the socialization of gender roles by reinforcing stereotypes and expectations associated with masculinity and femininity. Students are socialized to adhere to traditional gender norms, perpetuating unequal power dynamics and expectations between men and women.
Marxist Perspectives
Marxist theorists critique schools for perpetuating social expectations that benefit capitalist systems, such as obedience to authority and acceptance of hierarchical structures. Students are taught to conform to norms that uphold the status quo, preparing them for subordination in the workforce.
Conclusion
In conclusion, schools serve as crucial institutions for imparting social expectations to students through formal and informal education, hidden curriculum, rewards, negative sanctions, teacher interactions, ideologies of meritocracy, gender roles, and Marxist influences. Understanding these mechanisms sheds light on the ways in which schools shape students' perceptions, behaviors, and societal roles, highlighting the complex interplay between education and socialization.
SUBJECT
SOCIOLOGY
LEVEL
O level and GCSE
NOTES
Schools teach social expectations to students in various ways. In formal education, lessons, curriculum content, and classroom rules provide structured guidance on social norms such as punctuality and following instructions. Additionally, informal education through extra-curricular activities and social interactions reinforces social expectations outside the curriculum.
The hidden curriculum plays a crucial role in teaching social expectations regarding norms, values, attitudes, and roles. For instance, the emphasis on punctuality instills the importance of timeliness. Schools also use rewards to encourage positive behavior that aligns with social expectations, while negative sanctions deter students from deviating from these norms.
Teacher labeling, such as grouping students through setting and streaming, can influence students' behavior by internalizing teachers' expectations. Moreover, schools promote a meritocratic culture where hard work, goal-setting, and good behavior are linked to success, reinforcing social expectations of effort and achievement.
Gender roles are often taught in schools, perpetuating the idea that men and women have different social expectations, with men expected to be dominant and women to be submissive. In a Marxist perspective, schools reinforce a deference to authority and discourage questioning, which benefits capitalist structures in the workplace.
These various methods collectively contribute to the transmission of social expectations within schools, shaping students' behaviors and attitudes towards societal norms.