CHAPTER 3:

SOCIAL SCIENCE
THEORIES AND THEIR
IMPLICATIONS TO
EDUCATION
 THREE SOCIOLOGICAL
THEORIES

STRUCTURAL-
CONFLICT SYMBOLI
FUNCTIONAL
THEORY THEORY C THEORY
STRUCTURAL-
FUNCTIONAL THEORY
- Is a theory of society that
focuses on the structure
that create the society and
on how the society is able
to remain stable.
STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL THEORY
- View society as a set of interrelated parts that work
together to produce a stable social system . This
interrelated parts are;
• The family
• The state
• The school STABILITY
• The church
• Mass media
• Economics
 STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL THEORY
• Herbert Spencer
- The proponent of structural-
functional theory.
- He view society as a “system of
interconnected part each with
unique function. The parts have
to work together for stability
and balance of society.”
 STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL THEORY
Functionalists see education as a beneficial
contribution to an ordered society.
Functionalism does not encourage people the
take active role in changing their social
environment, even when such change
may benefit them. Instead, functionalism
sees active social change as undesirable because
the various parts of society will compensate
naturally, for any problems that may
arise.
 PURPOSES OF SCHOOLING ACCORDING TO
THE FUNCTIONALIST THEORY
1. Intellectual purposes- acquisition of 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 role; 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.
CONFLICT THEORY
- Conflict theory welcomes
conflict for conflict paves the
way to change to the
establishment of a new society
- Emphasizes power struggles
and social inequality as driving
forces in society.
 CONFLICT THEORY
According to this theory, there are
always two opposite 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 docile
work force for capitalism. The purpose of education is to maintain social
inequality and to preserve the power of those who dominate society and
teach those in the working class to accept their position as a lower class
worker of society. Conflict theorists call this the "hidden curriculum".
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST
THEORY
- Examines how
individuals interact and
interpret symbols to
create meaning in their
social world.
 SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST THEORY
Three tenets of symbolic interactionist
theory are:
1. An individual's action depends on
meaning.
2. Different people may give different
meaning to the same thing.
3. Meanings change as individuals
interact with one another.
 IMPLICATIONS TO TEACHING
Let us continue to teach for meaning. Let us promote and create
opportunities for genuine interaction among our students, teachers,
between students and teachers. Let us use positive symbols - in the
form of gestures, words, actions and appearances - to express our trust,
belief in our student's abilities, an affirmation of their being.
Conversation is an interaction of symbols between individuals who
constantly interpret the world around them. To ensure mutual
understanding, the sender of the symbol and the receiver of the symbol
must gave the same meaning to the symbol or run the risk of
misunderstanding.
Weakness of Symbolic Interaction Theory:
Critics argue symbolic interactionism may
neglect macro-level social issues, focusing too
closely on individual interactions.
Historical Context:
Symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber
and was introduced to American sociology by George H. Mead
in the 1920s.

MAX WEBER GEORGE H.

MEAD