Sociology of Education and Training
[SOC2035]
[30h] 5 credits
This course is taught in the 1st semester.
Teacher(s): Christian Maroy
Language: French
Level: Second
Aims
- Introducing to the main concepts and theories of the sociology of education and training
- Understanding the processes in education and training that produce social inequalities
- Understanding the macro-sociological relations between educational systems, States, economic systems and societies
- Developing the capacity to analyse the main elements of educational systems: educational policies and the State, schools, families, pupils
Demonstrating the contribution of sociological analysis in highlighting education and training issues at stake in the Belgian education system and at European level.
Main themes
It will also treat central questions for the sociology of education, locating the theoretical and methodological particularities of its diverse streams : for instance, the sociology of school inequalities (Boudon, Bourdieu), of the transformation of curriculum and pedagogy (Bernstein), the qualitative sociology of the actors in the educa-tion and training processes (teachers, families, pupils). Finally, the course will take into consideration the ques-tions central to the contemporary transformations of education and training systems : globalisation and evolution of school systems' regulation, transformations of schools and of the teaching profession, policies aim-ing at fighting against school failure and at treating the symptoms of the "school crisis" (violence, incivility), development of adult training policies and "lifelong learning".
Content and teaching methods
- School institution, The State and economy : the social genesis of an institution
- Sociological controversies on the roots of social inequalities in education
* Statistical regularities and systemic explanations: the Bourdieu/Boudon debate
* Role of the actors and understanding of processes: the contribution of qualitative studies (Becker, Mehan, théories de la résistance, Lahire)
* Contribution of international comparisons: school inequality, an society or education system ef-fect?
- Bernstein's Sociology of education ( Hidden Curriculum and pedagogy) and the " new " sociology of education
- Sociology of the schools : school market, school's identities, and the school effect ( Derouet, Van Zan-ten, Thrupp) - Globalisation and contemporary educational policies :
* Educational systems' new forms of regulation: market regulation and results-focused regula-tion
* the new relationship between economy, The State, education and training : the example of " lifelong learning "
- Contemporary developments of Sociology of education and training : the students will work, in sub-groups, on one or two themes to be defined (ex : violence and incivility at school, )
The course will alternate lectures, discussions based on readings and on the analysis of texts and relevant docu-ments. The final evaluation will be based on the written paper by students working in small groups on a themes/issues relevant for the sociology of education.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
Course materials : Written material (reference texts and books) to be defined