Sociologist offer different
theoretical perspective that are anchored on the concept that school is an open
system to explain the relationship between the school and the society. The
diverse sociological explanations enable educators to understand how the
school, as a social institution of society, interacts with social environment
as they perform their important role in their unique way either as agents of
cultural and social transmission or as agents of social transformation.
The Nature of Education Sociology provides educators as special perspective in studying the school and society. Schools, by their nature are social organizations. Because of the nature of education, the study of school systems becomes the concern of sociologists. Sociologist study the social issues and concerns in education which impact on socialization.
The Role of Schools
Dr. Adelaida Bago, in her book Social Dimensions in the Philippine
Education, stresses there are two possible purpose or roles of schools:
1.
There are those who believe that one role of
the school is to educate citizens to fit into society
2.
There are those who believe that the role of
the school is to educate citizens to change the society
The Specific purposes of the school are the
following:
a.
Cognitive Purposes- teaching the basic
cognitive skills such as reading, writing and speaking.
b.
Political Purposes- inculcation of patriotism
or loyalty to the existing political order.
c.
Social Purposes- concerns with the
socialization of citizens into their various roles in society.
d.
Economic Purposes- involves training and
preparation of citizens for the world of work.
School as Open System
School are open systems that
draw their inputs and send back their outputs to the environment. An open
system, like a living organism, has a homeostatic nature. Homeostasis is the
property of open system to regulate its internal environment to maintain stable
constant condition. This is done through internal regulation mechanisms of
inter-related and interaction parts that counteract any departure from the
normal or usual.