education
Chapter One
Sociological Foundations of Education
Introduction
Welcome to the study of another important subject in the Bachelor of Education Curriculum. By the end of this course the student will be able to:
1. Define, sociology and sociological foundations in education.
2. Identify any five important points about the relevance of Sociological foundations in education.
3. Examine indigenous Ghanaian Education System and its influence on Western Formal Education.
4. Draw a distinction between educational sociology and sociology of education.
5. Analyze the dichotomy between rural and urban education delivery.
6. Discuss the dynamics and import of culture.
7. Define socialization and its relevance to Western Formal Education.
Definition of Sociology and Sociological Foundations in Education
1. Vander Zanden sees Sociology as the scientific study of human organization.
2. Agyeman (1992, p.47), sees “Sociology” as “ a discipline which studies the nature and functions of human societies and the changes that take place within them.” He believes that sociology is largely concerned with understanding the relationships that exist between people which ultimately govern their behavior within the society.
3. Metta Spencer considers Sociology as the study of human group life. The question is, what is human group life? Human group life refers to the life of people in an institution. Such people are governed by conventions (unwritten constitution, or unwritten rules and regulations), with aims and purposes for gluing them together within a particular location.
4. Sociology as a discipline is interested in what makes human group life, possible, within a given society.
5. What is society? The term society refers to the entire complex network of the social world. It may refer to social life in the abstract, without reference to a specific place, but more often, it refers to a country, a nation or a state like Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, etc.
What is
Sociological Foundations of Education
Introduction
Welcome to the study of another important subject in the Bachelor of Education Curriculum. By the end of this course the student will be able to:
1. Define, sociology and sociological foundations in education.
2. Identify any five important points about the relevance of Sociological foundations in education.
3. Examine indigenous Ghanaian Education System and its influence on Western Formal Education.
4. Draw a distinction between educational sociology and sociology of education.
5. Analyze the dichotomy between rural and urban education delivery.
6. Discuss the dynamics and import of culture.
7. Define socialization and its relevance to Western Formal Education.
Definition of Sociology and Sociological Foundations in Education
1. Vander Zanden sees Sociology as the scientific study of human organization.
2. Agyeman (1992, p.47), sees “Sociology” as “ a discipline which studies the nature and functions of human societies and the changes that take place within them.” He believes that sociology is largely concerned with understanding the relationships that exist between people which ultimately govern their behavior within the society.
3. Metta Spencer considers Sociology as the study of human group life. The question is, what is human group life? Human group life refers to the life of people in an institution. Such people are governed by conventions (unwritten constitution, or unwritten rules and regulations), with aims and purposes for gluing them together within a particular location.
4. Sociology as a discipline is interested in what makes human group life, possible, within a given society.
5. What is society? The term society refers to the entire complex network of the social world. It may refer to social life in the abstract, without reference to a specific place, but more often, it refers to a country, a nation or a state like Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, etc.
What is
References: Agyeman, D. K. (1992). Introduction to Education in Ghana. C. O. Abosi & J. Brookman Amissah, Ed Antwi, M.K.(1992). Education, society and development in Ghana. Accra- North: Unimax Publishers Limited Benson, D. (1977). Total Man. (Wheaton: Illinois, Tyndale House Publishers Incorporation), p.111 Brown, F. (1947). Educational Sociology. New York: Prentice Hall. Bhattacharya, S. ( 2006). Sociological Foundations in Education (New Delhi, Atlantic Publishers), p.1 Fortes, M. & Evans-Pritchard (eds.). (1940). African political systems. London: OUP Firth, R. (1939). Primitive Polynesian Economy. Routledge & Sons Ltd., London Moore, R. S. & Moore, D. (2001). Experimenting with God in Families and Schools Peil, M. (1977). Consensus and conflict in African societies—An Introduction to Sociology ( London: Longman.), p Nyerere, J. K. (1968). Uhuru na ujama –Freedom and Socialism. (Dares- Salam: Oxford University Press), p White, E. G. (1952). Adventist Home. USA: Review & Herald Pub. Assn. White, E. G. (1954). Child Guidance. USA: Review & Herald Pub. Assn. White, E. G. (1903 ) Education (USA: Review & Herald Pub. Assn.), p.57