A Sociological Perspective On Hierarchies In Educational Institutions

A Sociological Perspective on Hierarchies in Educational Institutions bridges the gap between theory and practice, drawing together research from different perspectives without losing comprehensiveness, accuracy, and in-depth coverage of hierarchy and educational institutions - a novel contribution to Organizational Studies.

This title was first publiished in 2000: A hierarchy is an organization system that is structured in a treelike manner, with levels of status or authority stacked one above the other. The classical and best known example of a hierarchy is probably the typical diagram that describes the structure of a company or business, also known as the corporate ladder. This text argues that hierarchies are one of the most important concepts we have in order to understand the world around us, and looks at hierarchies in a wide variety of areas of interest to everybody, such as companies, educational systems, transport systems, retail stores, corporations, communities, population migrations, medical systems, and many other real-world phenomena. From a Canadian perspective, the text examines these hierarchies and their effects at a variety of scales. It discusses how to understand the system around us and the ones in which we are immersed every day. The central theme is that it is possible to get a better grip on the past, present and future of the world, if it is viewed through an understanding of hierarchies.

An in-depth exploration of the nature of language, knowledge and pedagogy, providing a progressive analysis of knowledge structures at work in educations institutions.

By relating the various literatures on the school to constitutive patterns of its internal organisation, Tyler demonstrates the need for a more intensive sociological study of this embattled institution.

Who should be educated, when, by whom and how? What purposes should education serve? Why does education matter? These fundamental questions of value are not always seen as central to the sociology of education. However, this book argues that they are pivotal and provides a sophisticated and engaging introduction to the field that is designed to open up these important debates. It draws attention to the many points of disagreement that exist between major thinkers in the sociology of education, and the values on which their ideas are based. By involving readers in crucial questions about the potential contribution of sociology to education policies and practices, it aims to bridge the divide between education as it is talked about by academics, and the concerns of policymakers and educators who have to make practical decisions about what is to be done. Chapter by chapter the book introduces competing approaches in the sociology of education - structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, Marxism, feminism, critical race theory and poststructuralism. It shows how these can be applied to major themes such as social reproduction, the politics of knowledge, multicultural education, identity and teachers’ work. Throughout, the authors emphasise the importance of understanding social and educational values and the ways in which these underpin and impact upon the work of both academics and educators.

"Introduction to Sociology 2e adheres to the scope and sequence of a typical, one-semester introductory sociology course. It offers comprehensive coverage of core concepts, foundational scholars, and emerging theories, which are supported by a wealth of engaging learning materials. The textbook presents detailed section reviews with rich questions, discussions that help students apply their knowledge, and features that draw learners into the discipline in meaningful ways. The second edition retains the book's conceptual organization, aligning to most courses, and has been significantly updated to reflect the latest research and provide examples most relevant to today's students. In order to help instructors transition to the revised version, the 2e changes are described within the preface."--Website of text.