Topic > An Analysis of Social Stratification in American Schools

Conflict theorists believe that schools reproduce social stratification. Use the virtual field assignment “A Tale of Two Schools” and explain how the two featured schools refute or support that view. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Social stratification is a universal system that influences how people think, behave, and see themselves. Within societies there are multiple ways of stratification, such as race, gender, age or social class. Social stratification is often reproduced through the media and even through our families. Schools are another way in which social stratifications are reproduced. In a field work “The tale of two schools” social stratification is highlighted by the different aspects of each school. These schools show a huge theme within our society: we seek to support the less privileged and raise the privileged. The first school observed in this fieldwork was School A. In the first two images the school has autumn decorations at the back of the school and has decorated laptops. The decorations in and around the school demonstrate that it is normal for students to be involved in maintaining a beautiful school. This demonstrates that administrators and teachers instill values ​​of engagement, student activity, and appearance in their students. The entrance to School B is plain, shows no value of the students' creativity, the car park is unsafe with wood lying around and potholes, and there is rubbish on the steps and rubbish along the front of the school. Littering is a norm at school and therefore students do not value caring for their environment as students at School A would. There are signs on School A's campus that say "Smoke-free campus" and "One hour per week limit when others are waiting: doubles play is encouraged." The school has many activities available to the community, including tennis courts where women play, playground, basketball court, hopscotch, park with benches, log jumping, soccer field and a sit-up platform. The signs on campus use neutral language compared to the signs at School B which use challenging language such as "No smoking", "No softball or handball activities", "We earn money when you recycle here" and there is a handicap sign indicating where disabled people have to go, which would stimulate deviant behavior in people. School A also promotes and enhances the activities. School B has options to be active, but they are not attractive. School A also values ​​the inclusion of all, regardless of gender, age, or ability status, as can be seen through the ASL welcomes all people sign and alphabet board. School B does not include inclusion between different groups. School A has an outdoor classroom, water fountains, and a learning station. By having open areas for the students, they feel like they are in an inviting and safe environment and not like prisoners like in school B where they were locked up while playing. School B also has graffiti on the walls that say RIP, which makes it seem like the environment they are growing up in is unsafe and would prevent students from coming to school to seek safety. Both of these schools are promoting different messages to their students. School A is sending the message to its students that they matter and that they have the ability to achieve high status in society. School B sends the message to their students that they are not that important to society and that they will be alonea product of the school. Students at these schools would use the self-mirror as a way to judge their self-worth, which would encourage them to excel. This is one of the ways in which schools reinforce social stratifications. The main reason why social stratification is reinforced through schools is mainly due to intersection theory. School A is a predominantly white school located in suburban Baltimore County. The students from this come from a decent position and are most likely part of a nuclear family and belong to the middle class. The students at School A are mostly white and belong to a high class/social status obtained from their parents. The parents of this school are satisfied with the school because it is strong academically thanks to the teachers with superior education. School attendance and suspension rates are also very low. School B is the complete opposite being located in the urban city of Baltimore with a predominantly black student population. The school has new teachers who are only there to start their careers, parents are dissatisfied with the school, the suspension rate is high and student attendance is low. Race, social status, income, family structure, and geography come into play to reinforce social stratification at school. Whites and Asians are more likely to attend better schools than blacks, Hispanics, or Native Americans because they most likely live in nicer areas. They live in nicer areas because they live in homes with two parents earning one income and many blacks come from single-parent families, often the mother, which means they are mostly low-income people and have fewer educational opportunities and work due to the feminization of poverty and poverty. the child will often reflect the same status as his parents. All these factors combined mentally create in these students one that says you can achieve great things while having the resources and the other kids have the opposite. Therefore, looking at schools, we see that social stratification is reinforced by reserving resources to achieve high status in society for the privileged and giving little or no help to the less privilegedII. Everyone must answer this question: How has your sociological imagination changed over the course of the semester? What concepts will stick with you as you move forward? Why are they important/what do they help you understand? (8 points) During this semester I have opened myself to a new way of thinking about how we connect to each other and how our society works. I learned that sociology is not just the study of society, but of how people interact with each other. My sociological imagination has also changed in the way I see people's customs and opinions on different opinions. While I may not agree with the opinions of others, I know there is always a cultural reason behind their behavior. The two concepts that will stick with me are gradual escalation and intersection. Gradual escalation will stick with me because I find it interesting how far people will go when they have power over others. I also enjoyed learning about the Stanford Prison Project and seeing how people who wouldn't normally behave evil gradually carry out cruel acts. I also find it interesting how people conform to one person's power. I will remember the intersection theory because I can relate to it more because I am a lower middle class African American woman. I think it's interesting how I would have a lot of disadvantages, but I was able to overcome the disadvantages of my statuses. These two concepts are.