Education’s Structural Role Analysis

Introduction

The functionalist approach to society is the view that societal structure is organized in an interconnected meshwork, thus producing predictable outcomes. Pillars such as family, education, and religion preserve the social order, and in addition to the social functions perspective, they present a bigger picture of how the different institutions relate and portray social patterns so complex.

Selected Social Institution

Education

Education plays the role of mediator in passing on the knowledge, competencies, beliefs, and values of a society/nation. Structural theories regard education as a social practice that, by allocating roles, devises norms and hierarchically orders society. Culture of popularity (which occurs at all times, and personalizing and passing on the customs, which include reproduction of inequalities) influences society through the development of structural changes and functioning.

Effect of Education on Society

Education is a tool of transformation that stimulates poverty alleviation, knowledge sharing, volunteerism, and social equity, and it is considered vital. It plays a role in social mobility and inequality in society, whether it realizes that or prevents that from happening, in addition to shaping social attitudes and customs. Education, which shapes social relationships and ensures the distribution and reproduction of the cultural inheritance and society structure, confirms desirable hierarchy (Baker, 2014).

Role of Education in the Organization of Society

The role of education in cultural maintenance and social order cannot be underestimated, and this is achieved via, among other things, the socialization of the individuals into the commonly accepted norms and values, the development of the relevant skills required at work, and the transmission of cultural values to new generations (Bhandari, 2023). It develops the spirit of being a citizen and (feeling of) social belongingness, encouraging people to share what they learned and experienced with other fellow people, which in turn creates an environment where people with shared knowledge and experiences live peacefully together as a community.

Interaction with Other Social Institutions

Education plays a vital role in the intertwined structure of social institutions, which include family, economy, and religion, by shaping individual and social surroundings. Singles and families share this medium’s values, thus demonstrating the importance of the socialization process; individuals attain skills required for economic participation through news media, and there may be some religious orientation in the press. Through these interactions, it is evident how institutions in society are knit together and subsequently shape social structures and find their expression in individual identities (Kallaway, 2020).

Synthesis and Reflection

From the understanding of many colonies and readings, education is a more complicated social institution. It influences the lives of a person himself and society in general. Structural theory shows that school is either the origin of or manifests societal norms, stereotypes, and inequalities. By and large, the thinking is about the implication of structural theory for us in finding solutions for the problems we face throughout society as a result of our study (Lee, 2021).

Conclusion

Education is the basis of social institutions, socializing people and a collective by skill and cultural imitation. In the Structural-Functional model, some factors influencing the stabilization or the elimination of the statement “who fits and who does not fit” into the particular society are argued. Therefore, there is an imperative need for somebody to find a common approach that can advance society.

References

Baker, D. P. (2014). The schooled society: The educational transformation of global culture. Stanford University Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=ovCyAwAAQBAJ&lpg=PR7&ots=LkvV19plxV&dq=Baker%2C%20D.%20P.%20(2014).%20The%20schooled%20society%3A%20The%20educational%20transformation%20of%20global%20culture.%20Stanford%20University%20Press.&lr&pg=PR7#v=onepage&q=Baker,%20D.%20P.%20(2014).%20The%20schooled%20society:%20The%20educational%20transformation%20of%20global%20culture.%20Stanford%20University%20Press.&f=false

Bhandari, M. P. (2023). The fundamental principles of social sciences. Business Ethics and Leadership, 7(2), 73-86.https://doi.org/10.21272/bel.7(2).73-86.2023

Kallaway, P. (2020). The changing face of colonial education in Africa: Education, science and development. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003001904

Lee, M. H., & Cheng, A. (2021). The preparation and practice of Protestant school leadership: Evidence from a nationally representative US sample. Journal of research on christian education, 30(3), 244-269.https://doi.org/10.1080/10656219.2021.1986443