SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION

The discipline of Education uses the signs of sociology to look at the problem related to children 's interaction in the society and at their school environment in particular. Sociological principles at a given point in time attempt to answer questions asked like:'Who teaches whom? For what society ,when and why?
According to Peresuh and Nhundu (1999) sociology of Education is a discipline which attempts to discern relationship between Education and society in a given socio-cultural context.
Historically sociology of Education has always determined to the importance of methodologies,learning activities and the teaching and learning aids since Education is a selection from culture. It examine the socio- phenomenon like: culture,gender,poverty,child abuse ,HIV&AIDS, deviance and social classes impact on the educability.
One may then concerned to ask: What is the relevance of sociology in the Education system?
Sociology of Education gives an overview of the nature society in which the school operates. It can challenges some of the things taken for granted and assumptions in Education system. Then suggests some provisions in sight into how some of these assumptions affect Educational performance.
And also assists Educational practitioners to answer a number of queries found in the Educational system. For example: How does a child's background affects the child and the child's educability?
Sociology of Education ,in other words is the candlelight for the teacher to study the community where the learners resides and how it influences them as determined by their social environment.
Teachers has also to have a clear study of the school structure ,organisation of the curriculum ,classroom management ,pupils' organisation in their group dynamics and the relationship between learning and discipline.
They (teachers) should understand the concept of self ,gender equality and multiculturalism. And have an understanding of the transmission of values ,norms and customs in any given social setting.
Sociological perspectives are theories of society. These theories have different angles of looking at various social issues at their own point of view.
Henslin (1998)puts sociological theory as a general statement of how some parts of the world fitch together and how the work in harmony. Hess ,Markson and Sten(1998)argue that a theory sets a logical related statements ,that seek to explain an entire class of events.
Therefore a theory can be seen as a set of ideas which claim to explain how something works. *A theory is not a fact ,but it is basically an attempt to explain a given phenomenon. In other words it is a partial explaination of how something works.
Macro perspective takes a holistic approach to the study of the society ,take into considerations the overview of the society ,thus studing things in wholes (large scale interaction patterns) for example study between social institutions or between social classes. The studies of functionalism and Marxist/conflict perspectives are done on macro overview.
Micro perspective look at a small scale interaction pattern between and among individuals. A helicopter view of micro perspectives are done by symbolic interactionism and phenomenology.

FURTHER READING
Ballantine, J.H.(1997)The Sociology of Education, New York ,West Publishing company.

Brinkenhoff ,D.B and White, L.K. (1988)Sociology ,New York ,West Publishing Company.

Giddens ,A. (2001)Sociology,Oxford ,Blackwell Publishers.

Haralambos ,M and Holborn, M. (2008)Sociology Themes and Perspectives,London ,Collins Educational