The Way Schools Work: A Sociological Analysis of Education (3rd Edition) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Kathleen Bennett De Marrais, Margaret Lecompte
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Category: Book
List Price: $90.67
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Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 255668
Media: Paperback
Edition: 3
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8
ISBN: 0801319560
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.430973
EAN: 9780801319563
ASIN: 0801319560
Publication Date: October 2, 1998
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 A Good Text for Sociological Analysis of Education May 26, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is very effective in helping the reader to grasp a wide range of interpretive theoretical perspectives on education today. The text covers both the policy side of the question (control and finance, bureaucracies, school reform, and teaching as a contested profession) and the anthropological side (youth culture, oppositional culture, engagement and alienation). The text also covers curriculum theory and theories of knowledge.
This book is particularly strong in contrasting and comparing social transmission and social transformation interpretive theories, particularly: functionalist theory, conflict theory, critical theory, and interactionism. There is a useful glossary of sociological terms in the back of the book, as well as 30 pages of excellent references for those who want to delve more deeply into the concepts raised.
Chapters include: Theory and its influences on the purposes of schooling; The social organization of schooling; Youth culture and the student peer group; The labor force in education: teachers, counselors, administrators, and ancillary staff; Social class and its relationship to education, What is taught in schools: curriculum and the stratification of knowledge; Ethnic minorities: equality of educational opportunity; and gender equity in schooling.
Each chapter is divided into logical and coherent subheadings and includes a useful summary of chapter contents. There are also suggestions for things to think about or activities to assign to help students grasp the concepts covered in the text more clearly.
The text works well for foundations of education, sociology of education, education and public policy, and education and society courses.
Unfortunately, like most textbooks today, this one is overpriced at about $75.
 Critical Theorist View of Schooling in America -- Blame the white, male, middle-class culture October 2, 2005
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
In the authors' view, The Way Schools Work is that they insidiously promote and support the values of America's dominant culture--the white, male, middle class which actively works to keep minorities and women in their place. The first chapter is such a muddle that it is difficult for one to determine exactly what the authors are trying to say. With the help of classroom discussion, I was able to sort out the characteristics of the sociological theories presented. Since the rest of the book is based on understanding these theories, I have to give the book low marks for not making this chapter crystal clear. In general, the book eschews the notion that if you work hard in school, you can succeed in American society. If you believe that notion, the authors allege, then you have bought into the dead-wrong functionalist view of meritocracy. Most of the studies cited in this textbook are at least 20 - 30 years old, and I wonder why more recent data was not given to support their contentions. This textbook presented a most negative, depressing picture of American schooling and places the blame for the dismal state of our schools squarely on the oppressive society in which we live. I respectfully disagree, and think that it is a much more complex issue. I do agree, however, that our public schools are not meeting the needs of our students.
A Crucial Invitation to the Lexicon of Education April 6, 2001
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
For anyone interested in the philosophy, theory, and/or practice of education, this book is a must. It is one of the few texts I have found that takes an unbiased approach to the practice of schooling. It is necessary to know the language of education before moving forward with readings of pedagogy; this text provides just such a vocabulary. Offering a full spectrum of views, practices, issues, and policies, this text is an essential introduction to the world of Education.
A Poor Attempt to Criticize Schools... July 10, 2000
2 out of 21 found this review helpful
This book is a poor attempt to criticize schools and those who work hard everyday to help prepare students for life. If you are a teacher, administrator, or school official, do not waste your hard earned time and money with this non-sense. It provides no appreciation to the dedication of those who care, no matter their race, ethnicity, or gender.
An excellent introductory guide to the sociology of educatio November 2, 1999
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I have found this book to be an essential part of my collection of books on the sociology of education. As a doctoral student in the social foundations of education, I have consistently drawn on the material in this book for both papers and lectures. The book's organization and index make it an easy to use resource guide, much like an encyclopedia of the sociology of education. The text gives a general overview of the issues surrounding the historical and contemporary context of the public school system in the United States. While the book is limited in the extent to which it can talk about topics such as theories of reproduction and resistance, it nevertheless provides a starting point for further research endeavors. Don't sell yourself short on this one, it is well worth the price you have to pay.
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