比较教育学重点

Chapter 2 Major Theories in Comparative Education

1.Introduction

A.Modernist Perspectives

Structural-functionalism vs. Marxism

Similarities:

a)Stem from common antecedents in the Western Enlightenment Era

Differences:

Structural-functionalism: e nvisions展望consensus一致and equilibrium均衡to be hallmarks印记of social intercourse交流and human progress, and seesstability稳定性as natural and desirabl令人满意的e.

Marxism: questions the possibility of consensus, critique the authenticity真实性of apparent consensus, and assert that conflict rather than stability is the overriding高于一切的catalyst for social change.

B.Postmodernist and Poststructuralist Perspectives

Deny rationalist explanations, challenge and question modernization

Question the possibility of “master narratives”大叙事or encompassing theoretical arguments

Focus on otherwise marginalized边缘化alternative perspectives

Reject predictability as goal for theory

2.Structural-functionalism

Stability and equilibrium, being central within the structural-functionalist analysis, reflect the theory’s identity as a consensus perspective.

A.What is Structural-functionalism

Three Major Characteristics of Structural-functionalism

a)Unitary统一的: Structural-functionalism’s identity as a consensus theory is

built on the conviction that society is unitary and that the building and

preservation of agreement is the preferred and most powerful social force.

b)Coherence连贯性: not only as a unit unto itself but also in terms of the

relationships that exist among its various elements. Social institutions are not

just a collective of people, but, rather, an entity实体having clear purpose and

potential to fulfill social needs, especially social solidarity.

c)Stability: working towards harmony and its own self-preservation, and its

own reliance on the motion of equilibrium as a fundamental trait of society,

and social progress is predictably linear.

Structural-functionalism is a framework for building theory that s ees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

This approach looks at society through a macro-level orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whol e, a nd believes that society has evolved like organisms.

B.Criticism

Structural-functionalist thought does not itself articulate使相互连贯a model of change because its proponents view change as a consequence of societal response to imbalances or imperfections, or adjustments or refinements改良品of existing social conditions, rather than as changes in the social order.

C.Apply on Educational Practice

a)Schools are important contributors to the maintenance of equilibrium

b)Classrooms are spaces where responsible and productive citizens are formed

c)Teachers convey and reinforce values that nurture students’societal

participation in line with mainstream social values rather than in opposition

to those values.

d)Literacy is one among many skills that contributes to economic and social

productivity, and this keeps with the maintenance of status quo with an eye

on the nurturance of a stable social order.

第一个理论记住几个关键词：stability, coherence, equilibrium, unity，并理解好这几个词，然后看看教育方面的应用就差不多了。

3.Modernization

A.What is Modernization Theory?