Political Purposes of Schooling

 

ü     Major political goal of public schooling is to educate future citizens and political leaders

ü     Who should define what type of values or good citizenship that is taught in public schools?

ü     Socialization processes used to assert political ideals and social expectations

ü     Meritocracy—we often believe we are functioning in a meritocratic society or meritocratic schools, but other factors than merit might be highly influential on outcomes.

ü     Teaching politics in schools—how do you decide what to teach (right wing vs. left wing, furthering the goals of the political group in power, etc.)

 

Social Purposes of Schooling

 

ü     The school now teaches what the church and family do not

ü     Public school characteristics and expectations versus home school

ü     Schools are concerned with ways to overcome poverty

ü     Sex education in schools is highly controversial, can conflict with religious views

 

Economic Purposes of Schooling

 

ü     Schools prepare students for the work/labor force by teaching behaviors such as attendance, punctuality, obedience, etc. 

ü     Schools sort students to go into the various professions and parts of the labor force

ü     Concerned with the question of whether investment in education produces economic returns—should governments invest in schools if there are few economic returns?

ü     Students are prepared for greater efficiency and higher productivity

ü     While in the past the assembly-line model ruled, today schools are more technologically (computer) oriented

ü     What role should business play in funding or influencing schools?