Social Agents & Their Role in

Schooling Community

Components

Definition of Agent of Socialization

Various Agents of Socialization

Roles of Education

Definition: Agent of Socialization

Agents of socialization are the people, groups, and social institutions, as well as the interactions within these groups that influence a person's social and self-development.

Agents of socialization are believed to provide the critical information needed for a person to function successfully as a member of society.

Agents of Socialization

Agent of Socialization

Basically there are 4 main agents of socialization:

FamilySchoolPeerMass Media

Family

The collective body of persons who live in one house, and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children, and servants, and, as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.

What makes socialization in family is so important and influential?

Foundation for all civilized behavior. Language abilities Body control Emotional control Moral values

The amazing power of the family as an agents of socialization comes from a combination of 2 factors:

The family has almost exclusive control of the person during first years of life & preeminent control during childhood & adolescent years.

Parent- child emotional bond motivates the child to be socialized & the parents to do the difficult, messy job of socialization.

Socializations uses dependency & emotional bond to motivate a person to put up with the difficult demands of it.

Malay

Parents considered to be clear authority figure, parents have greater responsibility in teaching right & wrong to the children.

Family is the starting point for learning & internalising the teaching of the religion & the culture.

Spiritual growth is important in development of the children, however exposure of media have gradually diminish the spiritual value, thus emphasizing on global culture @ western as a medium of socialization.

Chinese

In traditional Chinese family, socialization is influence by 2 concepts.

“Yang Yu” refers to rearing or nurturing. Parents are more indulgent and more nurturing with younger children.

“Chiao-Yang” refers to parental responsibility for children education.

In Chinese family, parents tend to control their children than their western counterpart. Most major decision requires parental approval.

Indian

Father is the dominant figure in the family.Parents treat their sons and daughters

differently. E.g: Female children are more protected. : Assertive behaviour and autonomy is

not encourage especially in girls.Socialization is limited to close families and

friends.

School

Place by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another.

A place or institution for teaching and learning; establishment for education

School as Agent of Socialization

Fulfill of teaching children become capable of increasing their physical, intellectual and social ability.

Teaching the values and norms of the larger society.

The school provides the intellectual and socialexperiences from which individuals develop knowledge, skills, customs, beliefs, interest, and attitudes that characterize them and shape their abilities to perform adult roles

Peer

Person who has equal standing with another or others, as in rank, class, or age.

They are: Friends Neighbors Family members Mates

Most often through interaction & games

Peers as Agent of Socialization

With peers, a person begins to broaden his or her circle of influence to people outside of the immediate family.

Peer group interactions become more autonomous.

Lessons learned also progress from basic rules in group interaction to more complex strategies of negotiation, dominance, leadership, cooperation & compromise.

Peer group socialization also linked to puberty & all important role of sexuality.

Levels Role of Peers

Childhood -to reinforce what is learned in family-social skills in group situation-complex strategies-establishment platform to challenge dominant power

Adolescence -forming own subculture-how to navigate group interaction-linked to puberty and sexuality

Adult -linked with elderly years.

Mass Media

Means of communication that reach and influence large numbers of people.

There are 3 types of mass media:

Print MediaElectronic MediaNew-Age Media

Print Media The print media includes newspapers,

magazines, brochures, newsletters, books and even leaflets and pamphlet.

Electronic Media Television and radio. This category also

includes electronic media like movies, CDs and DVDs as well as the new hottest electronic gadgets.

New-Age Media Mobile phones, computers and Internet are

often referred to as the new-age media through email, websites, blogging, and Internet TV

Mass Media as Agent of Socialization

Socialization comes through shows, cartoon and commercials.

It contains characters, images, words & narrative story

People spend more time on mediaMessages & values carried by media are

powerful & seductiveInfluence emerged in subculture fields

Roles of Education in Socialization

Definition: Education

The act or process of educating; the result of educating, as determined by the knowledge skill, or discipline of character, acquired

Roles of Education in Socialization

Education provides pupils teaching skills that prepare them physically, mentally and socially in order to adapt and socialize.

Education is generally seen as the foundation of society which brings economic wealth, social prosperity and political stability.

Education helps in maintaining a healthy society

Integrate people into society and teach them values and morals of society.

Education is means of socializing individuals and to keep society smoothing and remain stable.

Education in society prepares youngsters for adulthood so that they may form the next generation of leaders.

Education has a vital role to play in assisting students to understand their cultural identity.

Medium

There are 3 mediums which are:

Official CurriculumSocial Curriculum Hidden Curriculum

Official Curriculum

It is what the school system announces as their content & goal.

It often reinforces what was learned in the family.

It also challenge family socializationE.g teaching values of tolerance to a child

from a racist family.

Social Curriculum

It is learning social behavior appropriate for peer groups.

Covers skills such as communication, negotiation, domination.

It also reinforces gender roles socialization.

Hidden Curriculum

It is learning the rules of behavior need to function in formally organized groups.

It prepares for the adult world of formal organization & work place authority.

Focus on following instruction, obedient to authority, learning to control behavior & working in teams.