Politics and Education, Essay Example

Social institutions surround us every day. Understanding the function and the role that it plays in everyday life is essential in understanding sociology. Recently there has been some debate to the diversity associated with school material. Today’s society is not simply just black and white, it is much more diverse. When school book picture white students they are forgetting to incorporate the African American, Hispanic, and Asian population as well. Education is not only about reading and writing it is about culture and life. The educational institutions provide social instructions by which we live our lives.  For example, if students are taught it is ok to take things from other students without permission, this action will continue as acceptable behavior.  The social functions of education keep society functioning from one generation to another. The educational institution does this by providing the students with the necessary tools to lead future generations. A very important function of preparing the future generations is education on differences. It is hard to open the eyes of other students when the white population is still the only one being depicted in the educational tools. Individual actions are determined by interactions with social institutions, these institutions are diverse in gender, race, and religious .beliefs to name a few. It is not only about education, but understanding, acceptance, and expectations.  The educational institution needs to evaluate how their tools are preparing individuals for their future in today’s society.

Politics is one of the most debated social institutions still to date.  The beauty of the social structure associated with America’s politics is the democracy by which it functions. With democracy comes great debate. In a majority rules institution every issue become arguable.  Politics is a social institutions used to implement structure. The campaigning, debates, and voting process is the structure set up to ensure that majority rules is implemented as stated. However, there are still issues associated with this social structure as well.  The 2000 elections opened the eyes of American’s to the potential issues associated.  Due to the close election, they audited the state of Florida, which was the deciding vote for Presidency. In doing so, there were many voters disqualified due to their names not being on the list. This changed the political structure and its intended functions. Current events associated with the political structure include immigration, gay rights, and health care. These debates are extremely significant in our society.  Again, like education society is no longer just black and white. These issues cause a lot of debate, negative comments; however, they are extremely relevant within this structure.  Right and wrong is based on majority rules.  That is how this structure was established, and it is how it is suppose to function.  As society evolves this issue will change and new debates will surface. That is how the political institution has been since the beginning of time.