The role of community or religion and media as agents of socialization are as follows :

(1) Community : The community is also an important informal agency for the child’s education. Moving out of the family, the child automatically takes up the membership of various groups in community and through them develops various aspects of his character and personality. Playing in the group, he develops his mind and body. He also experiences moral, social and cultural development.

(2) State : The modern welfare state is responsible for the over all development of all its citizens. That is why, modern states pay so much attention to education and formulate national policies for education. The state shoulders the responsibility of establishing different kinds of schools. In many states free and compulsory education is provided, and even where this is not so, almost all educational institutions are aided by the state in one way or the other. The state provides able and trained teaches by establishing training colleges for them. The state also provides military training.

(3) Religion : From very ancient times, various educational institutions in almost every country have been shouldering the responsibility of educating the populace. In India, most schools were organized either within or very near the places of worship, for example, temples, mosques etc.

Role and Functions of Media

(i) Newspapers and Magazines : The contribution of newspapers and magazines to the education of people in general is far greater than that of any other informal agency because they can be circulated over a far larger area than can be covered by films, dramatic societies, television, etc. Today, the progress of education in a country is computed by the number and quality of magazines and newspapers published there. It is a matter of no little pride that after Independence, the number of newspapers and magazines, in English and in local languages, has been going up steadily. These play a considerable and in the child’ education. And infact, newspaper’s play the greatest significant role in making democracy a success.

(ii) Radio : In the west, the radio has been almost completely supplanted by the television, but in India it is still very much in vogue. It is pleasant to note that transistor radios can now be seen in even the remotest villages, and have become so common that they are carried everywhere, to work, to play, to social gatherings, to travel. The radio amuses as well as instructs. The All India Radio, the national radio network, has conceived and executed a number of programmes to achieve these ends, amusement, pleasure and education. Among their programmes many are aimed at the agriculturists, children, uneducated women, student, those inclined towards light or classical music, towards humour and laughter, towards serious discussions on current topics and scientific subjects, etc.

(iii) Television : As has already been mentioned, television has become an important means of informal education in most advanced countries. Colour television has also been introduced so that it has now come nearer to reality. Most of the men and women spend their liesure time in front of the television, and thus absorb a lot of knowledge and information without having to make any great effort. Most of the programmes exhibited over the television are so life-like that one hears of people dying of heart failure while watching boxing, matches and other exciting events. Television was extensively used to inform people about man’s recent journey to the moon. The launching and various other stages were televised for benefit of the people, in India.

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