Question- Narrate the Scope of Sociological Basis of Education.

Or
Clearly the concept that Education Sociology is the Sociological study of Educational Institutions and processes.
Or
The functions of Sociological of Education include elements of general Sociology with particular reference to Education. Submit your comments in your words.

Ans.

Education sociology may be defined as the study of education from the sociological stand point. It is the study of the inter-relationship of education and the social system. It centers upon the study of social institutions and their role in education.

The following points may be included in the study of relationship of education to the relevant aspects of social system.:

1. Education and Kinship : Both education and kinship are important institutions of socialisation in the society. Every society introduces child individual identity and the ability to acquire social status and fulfil roles according to it. In the kinship system, the most important role towards socialisation is performed by parental family. The school transfers knowledge from one generation to another and develop intellectual ability.

The School as a Social System : After the home, the child is exposed to the school which also influences him, for the school is nothing less than a miniature society to him. It socializes him, gives him an opportunity to manifest his qualities, instincts, drives and motives and help to develop his personality. For the child, the educator’s personality and character provide a model which he strives to copy. Thereby consciously or unconsciously moulding his personality. This is true only of those teachers who succeed in arousing in the child’s mind an attachment and love for themselves. Every little action, every movement, speech, etc. impresses itself on the child’s mind. The child is attracted by the other teacher who wins his sympathy, and it is from this teacher that the child wants to win praise and appreciation.

In this manner, the human personality is profoundly influenced both by the home and the school. Of the two, the family influence lasts for a longer time and is more comprehensive.

Education and Social Stratification : Social stratification whether open or close, is very much concerned with education. Social mobility is very much influenced by the castes, religious groups and classes. All these elements influence the psychological progress of the child through education. Thus, social stratification governs the type of education which a particular Individual will be able to secure.

1. Influence of Castes : Under the Hindu social organization, it is caste which determines the individual’s status and position in the social hierarchy. One finds elements of the caste system even among the Muslims. As for as the caste conception is concerned, the professions and occupations of the lower castes are predetermined and fixed, and the child aims at adopting the occupation of his own caste. Since the child is almost compelled to adopt the same profession as his forefathers, he is inevitably exposed to the rules of untouchability which operate between his caste and a superior caste. This creates very undesirable prejudices and gives rise to narrow mindedness in the child.

2. Impact of Religious Groups : In India one can see many religious groups such as Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains, etc. Most of these religious groups have established and are maintaining many religious schools in which general religion is taught, along with their own respective religious teachings. In many ways the teaching or religious principle can be of benefit to the child and the community, but when teaching in the school contradicts or ridicules teaching in another school, it naturally gives rise to a consciousness of differences between one religion and another.

3. Impact of Classes : Social class has the most potent influence on the child. On the one hand, we find a steady breakdown of discrimination based on religion and caste, but on the other we find a growing consciousness of the class one comes from, thus one intensifying the feeling of difference. This awareness, that one belongs to the lower, middle or upper class is communicated to the child also. Consequently, children coming from the lower classes start with the feeling of life.

4. Educational and the Political System : In modern societies, one finds that education is provided in government controlled institutions as well as privately managed institutions. Many educational institutions are also controlled and managed by religious institutions. And even among the government or state controlled institutions, one finds that some are administered by the central authority and others. Another aspect of the state control of education is to determine the spheres which the state should take under its own wings and the areas which can be safely left to the control of the people.

5. Education and Democracy : Democracy can never be successful without education. Wherever democracy has been unsuccessful, it has been because of the lack of education. In a democracy the government is composed of the elected representatives of the people and if the people are uneducated they can ever elect the right leaders and consequently can never create the right kind of government. It fact, it is impossible even to hope for democracy in the absence of education. Bertrand Russell has commented, “Democracy in its modern form would be quite impossible in a nation where many men cannot read.”

6. Education and the Attitude to Knowledge : The sociologist is interested in the social attitudes towards the sources, the limits and the validity of knowledge. With the change in these social attitudes, one finds a considerable interest in the interaction among educators and the educand in education institutions. In the ancient times knowledge was limited and attained through some limited means. It was acquired by few and individually circulated on the basis of Guru-Shishya relationship.

   Therefore, the attitude towards knowledge was of awe and reverence. The teacher was feared and respected, his word was the law.

   This attitude to knowledge has considerably changed in the modern times. The growth of knowledge in all directions, have led to the growing realization that no knowledge is final. In every field of knowledge today multidised, holistic, integral and total approach is considered to be wiser. All statements are taken as tentative. All theories are merely probable. Again the fast growth of knowledge is making the old attitudes irrelevant.

7. Interaction within Educational System : The most important area in the scope of sociology of education is, however, social interaction within the educational system. The educational system involves three social constituents - teachers, students, administrators and in a small measure the society or the community at large. All these constituents constantly change within themselves and in their interaction. A deeper analysis of the social interactions within the educational system will give a better insight in the scope of sociology of education.

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