Chapter

3
SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES AND
THEIR IMPLICATIONS TO
EDUCATION

Abstraction: LET’S CONCEPTUALIZE

The Dem Bones song introduces us to one of the 3 social theories we shall learn
in this Chapter, the functionalist theory.
Three Social Theories
1) Structural-functional theory
Herbert Spencer, the proponent
of structural-functional views society as
"a system of interconnected parts each
with a unique function. The parts have to
work together for stability and balance of
society." Society is compared to the human
body with different but interrelated parts
performing different functions. Just as the
human body has many parts, society has
different but interrelated components such
as the family, the state, the school, the
Church, mass media, economics. These must coordinate and collaborate for society to
function well. If one part of the human body does not function well, the whole body is
affected. In the same way, when one component of society does not do its part, society
will not function well. The overall health of the organism (society) depends upon the
health of each structure.
This is exactly the message of the song, Dem Bone. The bones are
interconnected. Each has a unique function.
For instance, there is peace, stability, equilibrium and harmony in society if
families do their part in bringing forth children, nurturing and socializing them; if
education or schools effectively transmit knowledge, skills and values; if politics
governs citizens well; if economics takes care of food production, distribution of goods
and services and if religion strengthens the moral fiber of the members of society.
Failure of one social institution to do its part means disruption of stability in society.
For example, the rise of single parent and dual earner families means families have less
time or sometimes no more time left for the supervision of children in their homework
which may result to an increase of non-performing students in school.
In a high tech world, educational institution must teach adults the new skills to
relate to the tech-savvy young and the world and to be more effective in the workplace.
With more women in the workplace, policies against sexual harassment and
discrimination were formulated. The Cybercrime Act of 2012 came about to address
legal issues concerning online interactions and the internet in the Philippines. The functionalist
theory of education focuses on how education serves the need of society
through the development of ·skills encouraging social cohesion. The role of schools is
to prepare students for participation in the institutions of society. Education is
concerned with transmission of core values for social control. Education is concerned
with socializing people by bringing together people from different backgrounds. The
functionalist theory is focused on social stability and solidarity. Functionalists see
education as a beneficial contribution to an ordered society.
Functionalism does not encourage people to take an active role in changing
their social environment, even when such change may benefit them. Instead,
functionalism sees active social change as undesirable because the various parts of
society will compensate naturally for any problems that may arise. For example,
schools can compensate for the lack of time and the lack of parental advice from home.
Purposes of Schooling according to Functionalists
The purposes of schooling according to the functionalist theory are:
1) Intellectual purposes - acquisition of cognitive skills, inquiry skills
2) Political purposes - educate future citizens; promote patriotism; promote
assimilation of immigrants; ensure order, public civility and conformity to laws
3) Economic purposes - prepare students for later work roles; select and train the labor
force needed by society
4) Social purposes - promote a sense of social and moral responsibility; serve as a site
for the solution or resolution of social problems; supplement the efforts of other
institutions of socialization such as the family and the church.
An examination of the present curricula in basic and in tertiary education shows that
these 4 functions are given attention to.
2. Conflict Theory

According to this theory, there are always two opposing sides in a conflict
situation. People take sides between maintaining the status quo and introducing change
then arrive at an agreement. Conflict theory welcomes conflict for that is the way to the
establishment of a new society. Conflict theorists find potential conflict between any
groups where inequality exists: racial, gender, religious, political, economic, and so on.
Conflict theorists note that unequal groups usually have conflicting values and agendas,
causing them to compete against one another. This constant competition between
groups forms the basis for the ever-changing nature of society.
The factory workers want change - better working conditions, higher salaries.
The factory owners naturally are opposed to such. The resolution of the conflict, however, leads
to a compromise, a change in the way the factory is managed where
both workers and owners are happy.
How Proponents of Conflict Theory Regard Education
According to the conflict theory, education is not truly a social benefit or
opportunity as seen by the functionalists. Rather, education is a powerful means of
maintaining power structures and creating a docile work force for capitalism. The
purpose of education is to maintain social inequality and to preserve the power of those
who dominate society and teach those in the working class to accept their position as a
lower class worker of society. Conflict theorists call this the "hidden curriculum". The
"hidden" curriculum socializes young people into obedience and conformity for them
to be developed as docile workers.
Functionalists disagree strongly. They assert that if schools teach adherence to
policies, obedience to rules, respect for persons including authorities, punctuality and
honesty, civil right it is because they are the very principles dear to a democratic way
of life. It is not because they want to make the workers remain docile, unquestioning
and subservient forever while those in power remain in power.
3. The symbolic interactionist theory perspective.

Three tenets of symbolic interactionist theory are:

1) An individual's action depends on meaning. We act based on the meaning
we give
to symbols. Symbols can be actions, objects 1 or words. If a student understands that
teacher believes in his /her ability he/she tries his/her best prove that indeed he/ she is
able. If a teacher does otherwise, a student tends to behave in accordance with teacher's
poor perception.
2) Different people may give different meanings to the same thing.
When teachers
are strict, some students see it as an expression of care. Others may rebel because they
perceive teacher's behavior as limiting their moves and desires. A businessman may
look at a tree and starts estimating how much money he can get if he has the tree cut
down for lumber. A philosopher or a poet may look at it with the thought, "they also
serve who only stand and wait" like John Milton's from his poem "On his Blindness".3)
Meanings change as individuals interact with one another. A negative
meaning
that you used to associate with hospital when you went to a hospital which looked more
as a hotel than the usual hospital you know is changed. After you have taught well, your
first impression of teaching as boring is changed to teaching is exciting.
Implications to Teaching
Let us continue to teach for meaning. Let us promote and create opportunities
for genuine interaction among our students, teachers, between students and teachers.
Interaction does not only mean dealing with warm bodies. Interaction includes reading,
listening, viewing. Other people's views and meanings are conveyed in what they have
written, in speeches and lectures they have delivered.
Let us use positive symbols - in the form of gestures, words, actions, and
appearances - to express our trust, belief in students' abilities, an affirmation of their
being. In fact, our belief in our students’ abilities also has positive effect in us. We find
ourselves more prepared in class, more caring, truly professional.
The symbolic interactionist perspective, also known as symbolic
interactionism, directs sociologists to consider the symbols and details of everyday
life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other.
As the term implies, symbolic interactionist theory states that people interact
with one another through symbols. Language is a predominant symbol among people.
According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, people attach meanings to
symbols, and then they act ·according to their subjective interpretation of these
symbols. Verbal conversations, in which spoken words serve as the predominant
symbols, make this subjective interpretation especially evident. The words have a
certain meaning for the "sender," and, during effective communication, they hopefully
have the same meaning for the "receiver." In other terms, words are not static "things";
they require intention and interpretation. Conversation is an interaction of symbols
between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them. To ensure mutual
understanding, the sender of the symbol and the receiver of the symbol must give the
same meaning to the symbol or run the risk of misunderstanding.
Faulty communication can result from differences in the perception
of the
same events and symbols. Did you experience this in your activity of
giving
symbols of caring? While you looked at your symbol as something
expressing your
love and care, your partner may have not understood it that way at
all. This
happens in real life. It is important that our symbols are understood by others in the way
they were intended to be. Sometimes it happens in the language (which is a symbol) we
speak. Often we are misunderstood or we misunderstand others. So let’s keep on
communicating.Weakness of Symbolic Interaction Theory
Critics claim that symbolic interactionism neglects the macro level of social
interpretation-the “big picture.” In other words, symbolic interactionists may miss the
larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the “trees” or by restricting
themselves to small or individual interactions.
Symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber’s assertion that
individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world. However,
it was the American philosopher George H. Mead (1863-1931) who introduced this
perspective to American sociology in the 1920s.
Application: LET’S APPLY
1. The purposes of schooling according to the functionalist theory are:
1) Intellectual purposes – acquisition of cognitive skills, inquiry skill
2) Political purposes – educate future citizens; promote patriotism; promote
assimilation of immigrants; ensure order, public civility and conformity to
laws
3) Economic purposes – prepare students for later work roles; select and train
the labor force needed by society
4) Social purposes – promote a sense of social and moral responsibility; serve
as a site for the solution or resolution of social problems; supplement the
efforts of other institutions of socialization such as the family and the church

TAKEAWAYS
 Functionalism is a theory of society that focuses on the structures that create
the society and on how the society is able to remain stable.
 Functionalists are for stability and a state of equilibrium in society.
 To maintain this state of stability, various institutions are expected to do their
part.
 For the functionalists, change is necessary only when things get unstable.
 Conflict theory welcomes conflict for conflict paves the way to change, to the
establishment of a new society.
 Symbolic-interactionist theory is focused on individuals who act based on
meaning which are based on the individual’s experience. These meanings are
not permanent. They change over time as the individual continues to interact
with others and with symbols.