Education and Society

Abstract

The relationship of antecedence between the concepts “education” and “society” is one that can be a challenge for social scientists. Anthropologists, sociologists, or other social scientists may be on conflicting sides of the argument. Some may argue there is no society without education. Therefore, education comes first, and is more important than society. Others may argue that a society must exist before there can be education. Furthermore, education is a reflection of a society, or is influenced by society. Therefore, the society comes first and is more important. Regardless of the side of the argument supported by one group of scholars or another, there is an evident consensus that education and society are interconnected. This chapter will not argue over the philosophical viewpoints about whether education comes before society or whether society comes first. Instead, the chapter emphasizes on the nature of the interconnectedness between education and society. This chapter focuses on the development of educational systems through various sociological theories, the political, social, and economic conditions that shape the mission, structures, curriculum, and instructional practices of educational institutions at the national and global levels. The chapter examines the relationships between education and society through various theories and concepts related to social mobility and stratification, social reproduction, social change, education and development, as well as differences in educational outcomes based on gender, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.