Education - One of the Most Powerful Social Institutions Assignment

Education - One of the Most Powerful Social Institutions - Assignment Example It equips an individual with skills and experience needed for the maintenance of the society through self-enhancement and upward social mobility. Conflict perspective suggests that education creates social barriers between individuals, which sustains social inequality. Instead of looking at things in a societal level, symbolic interaction perspective zeroes in on classroom and school dynamics, which influences the individual’s outlook in life. From a functionalist perspective, education is seen as the primary agent of shared values and norms. Education is not responsible for just teaching academic knowledge but it should also develop an individual’s identity that corresponds to what is accepted by the society. Functionalism studies social events and institutions by looking at its manifest and latent functions. With education, it’s manifest or obvious function is teaching academic knowledge, as well as, developing the social skills of the individual. As an agent of development and stability, it is responsible for the transmission of culture by instilling shared values and norms corresponding to that of the larger society. And lastly, equipping an individual with knowledge, values and social skills, it creates an opportunity for upward social mobility through employment. The educational institution is primarily responsible for developing individuals as contributing members of the society. Latent or hidden funct ions of the institution are to create a safe and practical place for parents to leave their children behind as they make a living and become contributing members of the society. Education also serves to control the entry of individuals in the labour force. Lastly, it creates and establishes social networks through friendships, partnerships and relationships between individuals essential as they grow and mature. Conflict perspective views education very differently from the functional perspective.