Education

What is the role of education?

In this RSA video (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), Sir Ken Robinson considers the role of education in society. Taking a historical view of the intentions of formal schooling at its inception, he argues that the current education system is not fit for purpose as it is based on principles that are not relevant in a media rich and diverse society:


After watching the above video students could begin to research the history of education in Britain. Providing research points for investigation may help guide weaker students, for example, what subjects were made compulsory and in what year? Are there any class differences in the type of education received? Were certain subjects restricted to boys and certain subjects to girls?

Discussions around their own experiences of education will prove fruitful here, for example encouragement to take English Baccalaureate subjects.

Research opportunities are also fruitful. Students could interview teachers and ask them to explain the values they believe are encouraged by things such as the wearing of a school uniform, detentions, house competitions and school/college sports teams.


 

More Resources from Discover Sociology


Functionalism

Some useful background reading for use as a flipped resource for the lesson can be found here: ..

Theory Teacher Resource

Is Sociology a Science?

‘Is Sociology a Science?’ has been a popular past question for all major exam boards and so ther..

Theory Teacher Resource

Looking Glass Self

A key idea that contributed to the development of Symbolic Interactionism is the work of the Soc..

Theory Teacher Resource

Marxism

The lesson could begin by asking students to write down everything they think they already know ..

Theory Teacher Resource

Modernity

Slide two on the following presentation gives a good overview of key ideas in relation to modern..

Theory Teacher Resource

Postmodernism

Prior to the lesson, ask students to watch the following video and write down the key ideas asso..

Theory Teacher Resource

Research Speed-Dating

The idea for a speed dating type session came from this blog post see link below:..

Theory Teacher Resource

Symbolic Interactionism

This is a clear overview of a perspective students often find tricky; and in particular the tree..

Theory Teacher Resource

The Enlightenment

An important precursor to modernity was The Enlightenment. The Open University has a wide range ..

Theory Teacher Resource

Value Freedom

In 2009, the media extensively covered a debate as to whether the BBC should allow the BNP to be..

Theory Teacher Resource