CHAPTER 3: Social Science Theories and
Conflict Theory
Their Implications to Education
Introduction:
Sociologists today employ three primary
theoretical perspective:
The functionalist perspective, the conflict
perspective and the symbolic interactionist
perspective. These perspectives offer
sociologist theoretical paradigms for explaining
how society influences people, and how people
influence society. Each perspective uniquely
conceptualizes society, social forces, and
human behavior.
Three Social Theories
1. Structural-function 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 function.
Purposes of Schooling according
Functionalists
1. Intellectual purposes - acquisition
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
2.
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.
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.
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 or
words.
to 2. Different people may give different meanings
to the same thing - When teachers are strict,
some students see it as an expression of care.
of
Others may rebel because they perceive
teacher’s behavior as limiting their moves and
desires.
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.
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.
CHAPTER 4: The weaknesses of the Filipino
character as cited in the Report are as
follows:
1. Extreme family centeredness
- Excessive concern for family means using
one's office and power to promote family
interests and thus factionalism patronage,
political dynasties and the protection of erring
family members. It results in lack of concern for
the common good, and acts as a block to
national consciousness.
2. Extreme personalism
- Takes things personally, cannot separate
objective task from emotional involvement.
Because of this the Filipino is uncomfortable
with bureaucracy, with rules and regulations
and with standard procedures. He uses person-
al contacts, and gives preference to family and
friends in hiring, services and even voting.
Extreme personalism leads to the graft and
corruption evident in Philippine society.
3. Lack of discipline
- A casual attitude toward time and space,
manifested in lack of precision and
compulsiveness, in poor time management and
procrastination. Aversion to following
procedures strictly results in lack of
standardization and equality control. Impatience
results in short cuts, palusot, ningas cogon.
Lack of discipline often results to inefficient
work systems, the violation of rules and a
casual work ethic lacking follow through.
4. Passivity and lack of initiative
- Waiting to be told what to do, reliance on
others (leaders and government), complacence,
lack of a sense of urgency. There is high
tolerance of inefficiency, poor service, and even
violations of one's basic right. Too patient and
matiisin, too easily resigned to his fate, the
Filipino is easily oppressed and exploited.
5. Colonial mentality
- Lack of patriotism, or of an active awareness,
appreciation and love of the Philippines and an
actual preference for things foreign.
6. Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality
- Done by tsismis, intriga, unconstructive
criticism... it is evident in the personal ambition
that is completely insensitive to the common
good, e.g., the lack of a sense of service among
people in the government bureaucracy. This
results in the dampening of cooperative and
community spirit, and in the trampling upon
other's rights.
7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
- The tendecy to be superficial and some what
flighty. In the dace of serious personal and
social problems, there is lack of analysis or
reflection, and instead satisfication with
superficial explanations and solutions.
8. Emphasis on porma rather than substance
- This lack of analysis and emphasis on form is
reinforced by an educational system that is
more from than substance.
The Filipino Character: Strengths and
Weaknesses
In 1998 Senator Leticia Shahani submitted to
the Senate t Report titled "A Moral Recovery
Program: Building a People, Building a Nation.
This report cites the strengths and weaknesses
of the Filipino character.
The strengths of the Filipino character are:
1) pakikipagkapwa-tao,
2) Family orientation,
3) joy and humor,
4) flexibility, adaptability and creativity,
5) hard work and industry,
6) ) faith and religiosity
7) ability to survive.
The Filipino character also has weaknesses:
1) extreme family centeredness,
2) extreme personalism,
3) lack of discipline.
4) passivity and lack of initiative,
5) colonial mentality,
6) kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality,
7) lack of self-analysis and self- reflection
8) emphasis on porma rather than substance.
There is so much good in the Filipino but so much
needs to be changed, too. Shahani's report (1988)
explains that family orientation becomes in-group
orientation that prevents us from reaching out
beyond the family to the larger community and the
nation. In our personalism, we are warm and caring
but this leads us to lack of objectivity. We are
concerned with people we know but unfair to people
we don't know. In our flexibility, we compromise
precision and discipline. We are a joyful people with
a sense of humor but we can't take things with
humor all the time for serious problems need serious
analysis. Our faith in God is our source of strength
but this makes us dependent on forces outside us,
do nothing that makes us submissive to God's will.
We are good at pakikipagkapwa-tao and so we can
easily empathize but we can at the same time be
envious of others. We can be hardworking and yet
can be lazy and passive in the workplace.
CHAPTER 5: The Top Ten Global Issues and
how they can be addressed
1. Climate Change- The global
temperature are rising, and are estimated
to increase from 2.6 degrees Celsius to
4.8 degrees Celsius by 2100. This would
cause more severe weather, crises with
food and resources and the spread of
diseases. Lobbying governments and
discussing policies to reduce carbon
emissions and encouraging reforestation
is an effective way of making progress
with climate change.
2. Pollution - pollution include ocean litter,
pesticides and fertilizer, air, light and
noise pollution. Clean water is essential
for humans and animals, but more than
one billion people don’t have access to
clean water due to pollution from toxic
substances, sewage or industrial water.
3. Violence – violence can be found in the
social, cultural and economic aspects of
the world. Whether it is conflict that has
broken out in a city, hatred targeted at a
certain group of people or sexual
harassment occurring on the street,
violence is preventable problem.
4. Security and Well-Being- the U. N is a
perfect example of what should be done
to prevent the lack of security and well-
being a serious global issue. Through its
effort with regional organizations and
representatives that are skilled in security,
the U. N is working toward increasing the
well-being of people throughout the
world.
5. Lack of Education – more than 72
million children throughout the globe that
are of the age to be in primary education
are not enrolled in school. This can be
attributed to inequality and
marginalization as well as poverty.
6. Unemployment – without the necessary
education and skills for employment
many people, particularly 15 to 24 years
old, struggle to find jobs and create a
proper living for themselves and their
families.
7. Government Corruptions – corruption is
a major cause of poverty considering
how it affects the poor the most, eroding
political and economic development,
democracy and more.
8. Malnourishment and Hunger- long-term
success to ending world hunger starts
with ending poverty. By fighting poverty
through proper training for employment
education and the teaching of cooking
and gardening skills, people who are
suffering will be more likely to get jobs,
earn enough money to buy food and
even learn how to make their own food to
save money.
9. Terrorism – terrorism is an issue
throughout the world that causes fear
and insecurity, violence and death.
Across the globe, terrorists attack
innocent people, often without warning.
10. The 17 SDGs – UN secretary –general,
Ban Ki-moon, said: “ the seventeen
sustainable development goals are our
shared vision of humanity and a social
contract between the word’s leaders and
the people. They are to-do list for people
and planet and a blueprint for success.