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Application of symbolic interaction theory
Essays on symbolic interaction theory
Application of symbolic interaction theory
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In recent years, Hong Kong education system has undergone a great change. In the past, students studied five-year junior secondary education, two-year senior secondary education and three-year tertiary education. Since school year 2009/10, secondary and tertiary education composed of three-year junior secondary education, three-year senior education and four-year tertiary education (3-3-4 Scheme). Apart from the academic structure of education system, new compulsory subjects like Liberal Studies was also introduced to facilitate independent thinking of students. The examples given above showed that the HKSAR government is working hard to change the education system from similar to the British system, to similar to the Chinese system. Given that Hong Kong’s education system changes from time to time, how will the sociologists see from these changes? The following essay is going to discuss the education system of Hong Kong based on the following three sociological perspective: the structural-functional approach, the social-conflict approach and the symbolic-interaction approach.
The first perspective to be discussed is the structural-functional perspective. According to Macionis, structural-functional approach is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Macionis, 2011). Education serves as different functions. The first function is to equip citizens with different skills so that they can apply these learnt skills to function as gear of the society. In Hong Kong, students need to learn Chinese, English and Mathematics in primary school. These three subjects serve as basic tools in communication and arithmetic in daily life. When students mov...
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...at people are willing to stay in their own social class and remain a status quo. In the case of Hong Kong, inequality showed in difference of economic capitals spending on education of children, which affects the results of public examinations. Also, schooling inserts hidden curriculums to students. In Hong Kong, hidden curriculums are especially effective due to collectivism of Chinese society that people should obey authority. The excessive pursuit of degrees results in inflation of credentials. Employers can pay less for better employees and affects chances of poor to move upward in the social class hierarchy. Lastly, scholars of symbolic interaction focused on effect of labelling on individuals. The difference expectations from public on EMI students and CMI students serve as an example of the labelling effect that affect the self-fulfilling prophecy of students.
Imagine a world without education where human history is totally forgotten by the young generation, and individuals are forced to live in their basic everyday life without having the power to change it. Such in balance or disorders are the growing problems that occur around the world, which were pointed out in many educational essays like “The Educated Student” By Barber, “The student and the University” by Bloom, and “Class in America – 2003” by Mantsios. These essays are among the many of their kind that address the status education in the modern world as being forgotten and lost behind all the technology and commercialization of education. This was the point of attention of scholars like Barber, Bloom, and Mantsios who came up with a common
Education holds power over determining one’s class. Knowledge and refinement can set one individual apart from another who lacks the qualities of successful individuals. Finances and opportunities distinguish class meaning the lower class has difficulty in obtaining the same conditions of the upper class. Education ultimately dictates success and power in society. Education is taken for granted and should be recognized for the significance it possesses.
With reference to the secondary curriculum in England, emphasis is placed upon the aims, values and purposes of education. With the implementation of the curriculum, pupils should be given the foundations to develop and apply the knowledge, skills and understanding that will help them become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens; regardless of social background, culture, race, gender, differences in ability and disabilities (QCDA, 2010). In doing so, children will become more aware of, and engaged with, their local, national and international communities; and effectively widen their po...
Since countries and cities are different, it seems that it is difficult to compare different education systems. With the influence of the globalization, the social problems tend to be common problems in the world. Canada and China are in different education systems but still have the same problem with educational equity. With the period change and policies seems to be improve by the government in both countries. When facing with the ethnic minority communities, China used several methods to give privilege to the groups in order to improve their education level. For example, after 1977, the educational policy was more in favor of the minority groups by empowering certain ethnic regions with the ability to administer the exams in the local language
In this paper, it will be looking at the culture and education practices of Finland, Canada, and China. Education varies from country to country as well as does one's culture, lifestyle of the people who live there. In doing so will review their culture and the role of their education policies that are used to motivate schools and teachers to improve student learning along with how their culture plays into learning. Furthermore, children should be taught with respect to their culture. However, we can also learn from one another. In addition, we have similar and different educational practices from one another. Such as when it comes to the Finnish, Canadians, to the Chinese as, we all learn in different environments because of our culture. Furthermore, and most importantly, thus educational practices vary from culture to culture. For instance, these counties are considered some of the best when it comes to education, Finland, Canada, China and it is because of their educational practices along with their culture government.
In the structural functionalism perspective, one sees the world as a machine, made of intricate and unique parts all functioning for the benefit of the whole. Kimberly
In the contemporary world, characterized by democracy, educators have the role of not only passing necessary skills for employment purposes, but also teaching values that will enhance citizenship. In other words, educating the whole child entails passing instructions that enhances patriotism and good citizenship, leading to poverty eradication through development, instilling morals and values, while enhancing co-existence among people in the society. As illustrated by Noddings (2005), in the democratic society schools have the obligation of going beyond teaching fundamental skills if the endeavor of educating the whole child is to be met. Importantly, it is apparent that learning institutions are secondary agents of socialization where children learn important virtues and values that are essential in the society as they spend the most part of their childhood in school. In this regard, educating the whole child means transmitting values through extra-curriculum activities where both genders are integrated and also via clubs and societies where children are taught to be responsible. As well, the education curriculum should educate the whole child through transmitting of vital cultural values that enable them to avoid stereotypes when they grow into their adulthood (Lumpkin, 2008). This is because education for the whole child enhances the development of cognitive skills, which enable the child to have an understanding of causal relationships and demonstrating tolerance towards other individuals (Preston & Andy,
Functionalism is therefore a value. The study of the backgrounds of functionalism in architecture involves the larger problem of the value of use and specifically, the place of fitness in beauty. The meanings of the terms used – function, fitness, utility, and purpose – will vary somewhat with each writer
In today’s society people are viewed as being in different classes depending on how much money they bring in. The categorization of people is known as classism. Classism is simply the prejudice or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class. Classism is known as one of the largest social problems plaguing the world today. Classes are formed according to how the rules of the following institutions; government regulations and economic status. It is held in place by a system of beliefs and cultural attitudes that ranks people according to their; economic status, family lineage, job status, and level of education. There are three major classifications to which people are titled. They include upper or high class which includes the people with the most money. The middle class who includes the people that brings home the average income. Finally, the class titled the lower class that includes the people who have only one income coming in or none at all (“What Is Classism.”). In the classrooms these classes still remain and the students within each class have different ways in which they learn, and view schooling. We as educators have to look passed their ways and address each class the same.
The largest educational system is in china there is a law that makes it mandatory that all Chinese students have nine year of education experience this law was passed in 1986. The importance of having an education is the key to success to be comfortable and abl...
Structural-Functional Theory is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Macionis 16). In laments terms the structural functional theory is the idea that systems in society work together as a body, the idea that customs, traditions, and institutions shape society. This theory is outlined by social structure, social functions, and social dysfunction. Social structure is defined as any relatively stable pattern of social behavior. Social structure shapes and impacts our lives in the workplace, families, college, and classroom. Social functions are the consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole. Social dysfunction is described as any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society. The main idea of the structural functional theory is its vision of society as stable and orderly.
The structural theory of Functionalism is a vast perspective in social science which directs to the attention of the social structure of the function and its components. Those components are called norms, values, status and role. Structural theory is also called Macro theory. That theory or perspective enables us to analyze the way our whole society works and fits together. The sociologist TALCOTT PARSONS used a different system of approach. What he done was to view all the different societies as distinguished and able to supply to their own needs without external assistance. T...
To reach the universal education goal for all children, special efforts should be clearly made by policymakers like addressing the social, economic...
In recent years, although tertiary education is certainly popular among Hong Kong students. It is unlikely that all students can easily catch the ways of studying at starting university. Therefore, we need to know actually what great differences between studying at university and school in order to adjust our ways of studying more effective to achieve the tertiary education. In this essay, I will try to examine their differences in terms of the characteristic of teachers and students, students¡¦ time management and motivation as well as the modes of assessment
One of the most clearly seen and common aim of schooling is to develop individuals ‘who have skills an...