Sociology's misfortune is that it discovers the arbitrary and contingent where we like to see necessity, or nature; and that it discovers necessity, social constraints, where we would like to see choice and free will...and so, paradoxically, sociology frees us by freeing us from the illusion of freedom, or, more exactly, from the misplaced belief in illusory freedoms. ~ Pierre Bourdieu, In Other Words: Essays Towards a Reflexive Sociology

Why do individuals do what they do? Sociological theories argue that our actions are not as simple to understand as we might like to think. Our actions, thoughts, and beliefs are not conceived and carried forth within a vacuum, but within a highly specific context. The norms we abide by, the roles we play, the groups we associate with, and the values we strive for are all intertwined with how we think, what we believe, and how we act. Our ethnic background, gender, class, personal characteristics, religious beliefs, and linguistic abilities (to name just a few variables) impact how others relate to us and we to them. We are all part of larger institutions and situated within a particular tradition. We are influenced by (and influence others through) authority, group pressure, and rewards. Therefore, to begin to even partially answer why we do what we do involves understanding human actions from a sociological perspective.

Taking these thoughts into the sphere of education, the sociology of education deals with understanding why individuals do what they do within the context of learning environments, with schools being the most substantial arena of study. Why do students drop out? What are the implications of tracking? Why do students commit violence? What are the consequences of single-sex schools? Why are reform efforts so often unsuccessful?

Through classic and contemporary texts, this class will explore these and other questions at multiple levels: classroom, school, school system, and society. Additional questions concerning inequity, identity formation, the role of schooling, and issues of power will also be discussed.