CH. 12: Miriam, Rachel, Michael, Isabella, Frank
Education is something that is valued all around the world. Issues surrounding educations are constantly shifting to accommodate societal changes. What children learn in schools largely determines the person they will be later in life. If a child is pushed to be the best that can be in school, then they will be the best they can be in their careers. If they are constantly bullied and unheard, those negative attitudes can be reflected onto others in their future. The importance of children receiving a good education is more important now than ever before. New problems arise every day and each new generation will be in charge of solving those problems. One can’t solve those problems unless they are taught to do so correctly.
In this listicle we gathered research from various New York Times articles and Experiencing Intercultural Communication by Judith Martin and Thomas Nakayama. This research back our argument that education plays a key role in developing social issues and social issues play a key role in how that education is being received. Racial and economic tensions should not be barriers for a better education but in today’s society they are. Whether we know it or not, children are the ones being most affected by problems we caused. What they learn in classrooms is a reflection of what the real world is presenting to them as their future. For these reasons, the classroom should a space for children to grow and thrive, not a place of judgment and harassment.
DON’T AVOID CONFRONTING THE ISSUE
If you’re the one being bullied, don’t submit yourself to the person doing the bullying. Speak to someone you trust and look for options on how to confront this issue appropriately. The worst thing to do is let it bottle up inside of you while it continues to happen. If you come from a diverse ethnicity, do not feel ashamed of your culture or hide it because of the bully. Embrace your uniqueness.
DON’T RETALIATE
Sometimes your first instinct is to just bully them right back. Do not do this. This only creates deeper conflict.
DON’T HARASS SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUALITY
Whether someone is LGBTQIAPK, it shouldn’t be a reason to judge that person or harass them. Be accepting. If you don’t understand where they are coming from, take a moment to talk to them and learn more about their identity, rather than making your own perception of them and harassing them.
DON’T USE MICROAGGRESIONS
Microaggressions are still offensive, even if you may not realize it. Do not single out an Asian in your class and say “can you please help me with math?” That is just assuming and stereotyping.
DO FUND SCHOOLS
School funding allows for a cleaner and safer environment and also funding allows for schools to give their students a better education. The goal for funding is to make the school a place where students want to go to everyday.
In an article written by The New York Times, says that many states spend less in school districts that serve low-income students and new immigrants who need more support to succeed.
At some of these schools in low income areas these students are left with no textbooks and the schools lack in trained teachers. And this leads to a very low graduation rate.
A recent study of school funding reforms shows, for low-income students who spent all 12 years of school in districts that increased their spending by 20 percent as a result of court-ordered reforms, graduation rates rose by 23 percentage and adult poverty rates fell by more than 20 percentage . The students’ family incomes were about 52 percent higher than they would have been without the greater education investment.
DO ESTABLISH A SAFE SCHOOL CLIMATE
The first step in preventing bullying is to foster a safe environment for kids to learn. This should entail communicating the fact that everyone is equal. No matter a child’s background they should be made to feel as though they belong. Students should also feel safe communicating the behaviors they are experiencing, allowing for a voice to be heard that will hopefully stop bullying occurrences.
DO EMBRACE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
“We must not drawn out other voices…We must work harder at developing dialogues of respect” (360). Having students from multiple backgrounds in class is advantageous for both the teacher and the students. However, this is often not seen in a positive light. Instead, students of minority backgrounds will get bullied and ridiculed, which is why “we have to create an environment in which cultural differences are assumed to exist and are discussed” (360). When students of different cultures are learning in the same classroom, the curriculum and educational goals will be the same for everyone. Let’s embrace the differences.
DO ENFORCE CURRICULUM INNOVATIONS
White students learning about the history and literature of European and Western views are becoming empowered because of the structure of educational institutions. However, students from an African background are being overpowered by the majority students because they are learning the history of another state or nation, creating barriers to intercultural communication. By having students learn about afrocentric history, their knowledge will be opened up and will be “exposing students to an entirely different view of the world and their place in it” (359). These changes in curriculum will create a positive change in the behaviors of the minority students, increasing self-esteem, cultural identity, and empowerment of all students.
DON’T PROMOTE RACIAL PROFILING
Racial profiling in schools is a bigger problem than many of us choose to acknowledge. In the United States black children are receiving harsher punishments from teachers and are nearly four times more likely to be suspended than their white peers (“Racial Profiling in Preschool”). In a Yale study, teachers were shown videos of well-behaved preschoolers playing in a classroom. When asked to find the problematic child, their eyes immediately focused on the one black boy in the room. All kids were behaving well yet the black child received the most scrutiny and raised the most suspicion (“Racial Profiling in Preschool”). Whether this was intentional or not, something must be done about it. Teachers who saw themselves as loving and fair were criminalizing four-year olds based on the color of their skin. As result these children might actually end up falling behind and acting out because this is the future they are being pushed into.
In 2015, a video of a black student being dragged out of a classroom by a police officer went viral and produced national outrage. According to students, the girl was being disruptive and not obeying the officer’s orders which led him to use physical force. Could this be the result of a student falling into the racial pressures created by the education system? More recently a white student called the police on a black student at Yale for sleeping in a common area.
DON’T LIMIT HISTORY
Many universities today only offer Eurocentric history courses. These courses teach history from a Western perspective, only giving one side of history. This can be problematic to international students, who might have been taught differently in their home countries. The response to this is teaching Afrocentric history as well. This history is based around the African experience rather than just the European one. It exposes students to different world views and can shift the way they see themselves in the world. Learning about different histories can impact self-esteem and cultural identity yet many schools fail to provide students with this opportunity at a young age.
DON’T PUSH AWAY DIVERSITY
Minority students all over the world are constantly being harassed and belittled by peers and in some cases their professors. As we learned in previous chapters, different cultures have different standards. International students run into trouble when their needs are neglected and their differences are seen as insulting. Problems with communication exist between teachers and their students when both sides don’t take the time to understand each other’s cultures. The book highlights cases in which international students and minorities are confronted with racism. In one example, a student at UCLA posted a video on YouTube ranting about her Asian classmates. The video did nothing but spread hate and promote ignorance towards a group of individuals. The video eventually went viral and put the entire university in a bad light.
Ignorance displayed by students towards these groups caused shifts in the number of students wanting to go to that particular school. After an Indian student was attacked in Australia, people in India were reminded of past confrontations which led to a 70 percent drop in students traveling from India. Schools should be educating students about diversity to try and avoid events like these from happening. Knowing more about a culture can help make it less intimidating to welcome people of that culture.
DO INCORPORATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEARNING AND TEACHING STYLES
The culture clash over learning styles and teaching styles is common as students increasingly travel to study in other cultures. Often we are unaware of our cultural assumptions about education until we are confronted with different ways of learning (350). For this reason, it’s important to take the time to learn different learning and teaching styles, because no two people learn or communicate in the exact same way. Incorporating this into education systems will help students to learn and communicate in the best way possible, while learning about different cultures at the same time, reducing social issues in education.
DO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION BEHAVIORS
The relationship between instructor and student is not uniform around the world. For example, one student wrote about his experience when studying abroad in Malaysia. “I received what I thought was an unfair grade on a paper. As I discussed my unhappiness in his office, the teacher became increasingly angry that I was commenting about his grading in his office… I was threatening to report him to the school’s governing board, and he was threatening to get me kicked out of the school..” (351). In some cultures, students are disrespectful when they question teachers decisions, and in others, asking questions shows you are paying attention. This example highlights the role that different communication behaviors play in the educational process. Taking this into account will help resolve issues like this. The more aware we are of different communication behaviors, the better we will communicate and thrive in our learning environments.
DO UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION IS FOR EVERYONE
“‘Racism is not a theory.’ It is not an easy lesson for white people to learn. It is also a difficult lesson for groups of people in higher education to learn, as we cling to safe and predictable routes to knowledge” (360). Education is a process of socialization and enculturation. Which is extremely relevant to intercultural communication. Understanding the importance of education is crucial.
DO FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY
Many schools are unfamiliar on how to teach in ways that are fair to all cultural groups. Do take into consideration that students will start taking an interest in history when it seems important to them individually. Focusing on inclusivity is ultimately respecting every person for who they are, and embraces diversity. Paying attention to the details helps us better understand the whole. Stressing importance on every individual promotes equality among our differences.
The New York Times Company. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/03/26/is-improving-schools-all-about-money/society-benefits-when-we-spend-more-on-education
Board, T. E. (2016, October 08). Racial Profiling in Preschool. Retrieved May 19, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/opinion/racial-profiling-in-preschool.html
Press, A. (2017, December 21). Deputy Who Tossed a S.C. High School Student Won’t Be Charged. Retrieved May 19, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/03/afternoonupdate/deputy-who-tossed-a-sc-high-school-student-wont-be-charged.html
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2018). Experiencing intercultural communication: An introduction(Sixth ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
FAQs
Why is it important to be educated on social issues? ›
Education helps us understand what society is and what our responsibilities in that society are. It provides us with the knowledge to analyze our social structure and adopt appropriate and adequate social reforms. Education empowers women to fight for their rights and challenge inequality.
What are the problems related to education? ›- Lack of capital: ...
- Expensive higher education. ...
- Neglect of Indian languages: ...
- The problem of brain drain: ...
- Mass illiteracy: ...
- Wastage of resources: ...
- General education oriented: ...
- Problems of primary education:
Education gives everyone a chance to acquire new knowledge and learn soft skills that will help them improve their life. Education also helps children to appreciate themselves, their ambitions and knowledge from an early age, and to understand that they have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
How education can change the society? ›Education can stimulate economic growth less directly, by increasing innovation, productivity, and human capital. And education also has a history of fostering positive social change, by encouraging things like political participation, social equality, and environmental sustainability.
What is the biggest issue in education today? ›1. Deficits in government funding for schools. Funding is always an issue for schools and is, in fact, one of the biggest issues facing the American public education system today. For more than 90% of K-12 schools, funding comes from state and local governments, largely generated by sales and income taxes.
What is the biggest challenge in education today? ›The already existing fault lines in education have become a lot more visible with the global pandemic. The antiquated educational models, lack of qualified teachers, and stark differences in access to ICT across social classes – problems that educators have been dealing with for years – are suddenly out in the open.
How does education inequality affect society? ›Individuals belonging to these marginalized groups are often denied access to schools with adequate resources. Inequality leads to major differences in the educational success or efficiency of these individuals and ultimately suppresses social and economic mobility.
What is the current problem in our education system? ›The lack of sufficient funds is the main problem in the development of education. Outlay for education in Five Year Plans has been decreasing. Due to insufficient funds most educational institutions lack infrastructure, science equipment and libraries etc. Due to this reason, desired results cannot be achieved.
What are social problems in schools? ›Issues include but are not limited to poverty, achievement motivation, dropouts, homelessness, teen pregnancy and parenting, eating disorders, obsesity, child abuse, substance abuse, physical and mental abuse, gang violence, bullying, HIV/AIDS, and suicide.
Is education system a social issue? ›Some problems like illiteracy, social tension and gender discrimination are well known. Educational problems refer to issues of school dropout, stagnation and wastage. They are also social problems. This lesson will help you understand the psychological aspects of some important social problems faced in the society.
What is the current social issue? ›
Some relevant global social problems include income inequality (poverty), corruption, the rise in authoritarianism (erosion of democratic values), criminality, unsustainable development, and bullying in schools.
Which is the best example of a social issue? ›Poverty, unemployment, unequal opportunity, racism, and malnutrition are examples of social problems. So are substandard housing, employment discrimination, and child abuse and neglect. Crime and substance abuse are also examples of social problems.
What is the relationship between education and society? ›Education and society both are inter-related or inter-dependent because both mutually influence each other i.e. complimentary. Without education, how we can build an ideal society and without society how we can organize education system systematically that means both are needed to understand.
Why is education important in society essay? ›Education certainly determines the quality of an individual's life. Education improves one's knowledge, skills and develops the personality and attitude. Most noteworthy, Education affects the chances of employment for people. A highly educated individual is probably very likely to get a good job.
What are the five main reasons why education is important? ›- Develop Self-Dependency. ...
- Fulfil Dreams and Ambitions. ...
- Build Confidence. ...
- Make a Fairer World. ...
- Underpin Human Progress. ...
- Bring Education into Everyday Activities. ...
- Help out with Homework. ...
- Work at Extracurricular Activities.
Those who get an education have higher incomes, have more opportunities in their lives, and tend to be healthier. Societies benefit as well. Societies with high rates of education completion have lower crime, better overall health, and civic involvement. Lack of access to education is considered the root of poverty.
What is the impact of education on social change? ›Education can initiate social changes by bringing about a change in outlook and attitude of man. It can bring about a change in the pattern of social relationships and institutions and thereby it may cause social change. Thus, education has brought about phenomenal changes in every aspect of man's life.
How does education empower the society? ›Education helps individuals make informed decisions, increase their self-confidence, reduce inequalities, and contribute to a better society, such as the right to vote. However, there are many challenges when it comes to education, such as access, affordability, and quality.
What are the challenges of students during pandemic? ›College students are facing enormous challenges related to the pandemic, including feelings of isolation, an excess of free time, and unreliable internet connections. Learning during a pandemic is a unique experience to say the least.
How does poverty affect education? ›These factors often place more stress on a student, which can negatively impact the student's ability to succeed in a school. Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework, study, or engage in activities that helps equip them for success during the school day.
Why is it important to education? ›
Education provides stability in life, and it's something that no one can ever take away from you. By being well-educated and holding a college degree, you increase your chances for better career opportunities and open up new doors for yourself.
What are the four major problems of students? ›- Social anxiety, general anxiety, test anxiety, or panic attacks.
- Family expectations or problems.
- Depression, lack of energy or motivation, hopelessness, being overwhelmed, low self-esteem, homesickness, loneliness.
- Relationship difficulties (emotional and physical aspects of intimate relationships)
The distribution of education both in terms of quality and quantity is highly uneven in most societies. Inequality in opportunities for education is found not only with reference to individuals and social classes but also in terms of regions and territorial regions such as urban and rural areas.
What causes educational inequality? ›Disparities in academic access among students in the United States are the result of several factors including: government policies, school choice, family wealth, parenting style, implicit bias towards the race or ethnicity of the student, and the resources available to the student and their school.
How can education reduce social inequality? ›Essentially, power relations, discrimination and the guarantee of equality are defined through education. It can be used as a tool to form prejudices that lead to discrimination, or we can teach students to accept a multicultural and diverse society in which men and women are equal.
How can we improve our education system essay? ›- Skill Based Learning – Schools should be allowed to provide skill based training. ...
- Focus on Rural Education – Mahatma Gandhi said, “The future of India lies in its villages. ...
- Free Basic Computer Skills Classes – The reason that we suggest this point is very straightforward.
- Infrastructure deficit: ...
- Corruption and leakages: ...
- Quality of Teachers: ...
- Non-Academic burden: ...
- Poor salary: ...
- Teacher Absenteeism: ...
- Lack of Accountability: ...
- High drop-out rates:
- Rote learning. ...
- Evaluation system. ...
- Equal respect to all the subjects. ...
- Better training of educators. ...
- Introduction of technology. ...
- Personalize education. ...
- Teach them the purpose of education.
9 challenges students face in school are poverty, homeless families, child abuse and neglect, bullying (including cyber bullying), violence, obesity and eating disorders, sex and pregnancy, suicide, drugs, and dropping out.
How do schools address social problems? ›The key to overcoming social problems at school, Nebolsine says, is to provide lots of opportunities for children to practice being in different kinds of social situations. These can include sports teams, theater groups, play groups, volunteer experiences—any extra-curricular activity that involves socialization.
How lack of education is a social issue? ›
The lack of schooling and poor education have negative effects on the population and country. The children leave school without having acquired the basics, which greatly impedes the social and economic development of these countries.
Why is lack of education a societal problem? ›Uneducated people struggle to fit in social situations, and often remain marginalized. The lack of resources generated by education prevents them from participating in numerous social activities in a productive and comprehensive way, in contrast to educated people who engage in the same activities without difficulty.
Is lack of education a global issue? ›Globally, 250 million children aren't on track to learning even the most basic literacy and numeracy skills. We cannot afford to ignore this given that our fates are interconnected – our economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, public safety, and health. One economy fails and we all feel the effects.
What are the types of social issues? ›- Social stratification.
- Economic issues.
- Social disorganization.
- Public health.
- Age discrimination.
- Social inequality.
- Education and public schools.
- Work and occupations.
Social problem very adversely affect our society.
One of the major effects is that our harmony disturbed and in its stead in the society there is hostility and suspicion. These also result in large-scale social dissatisfaction and create suffering and misery.
It refers to an unwanted situation that frequently results in problems and continues to harm society. Social issues can cause a lot of problems that can be beyond the control of just one person. Through an essay on social issues, we will learn why they are harmful and what types of social issues we face.
Is poverty a social issue? ›Despite the many definitions, one thing is certain; poverty is a complex societal issue. No matter how poverty is defined, it can be agreed that it is an issue that requires everyone's attention.
How can we solve social problems? ›- Focus on the Outliers.
- Set measurable goals with a scary deadline.
- Focus on the obvious thing.
- Build the broadest team possible.
- Experiment in short cycles.
- Provides Stability. Education provides stability in life, and it's something that no one can ever take away from you. ...
- Provides Financial Security. ...
- Needed For Equality. ...
- Allows For Self-Dependency. ...
- Make Your Dreams Come True. ...
- A Safer World. ...
- Confidence. ...
- A Part Of Society.
Education certainly determines the quality of an individual's life. Education improves one's knowledge, skills and develops the personality and attitude. Most noteworthy, Education affects the chances of employment for people. A highly educated individual is probably very likely to get a good job.
Why education is essential for every society and individual? ›
It helps people become better citizens, get a better-paid job, shows the difference between good and bad. Education shows us the importance of hard work and, at the same time, helps us grow and develop. Thus, we are able to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations.
Why is education important explain the role of education in transformation of values in society? ›Education transforms both societies and people in a particular direction by shaping and reshaping their patterns of thoughts, means of problem solving and ways of life. This will then contribute to further individual and social transformation.
How does education affect the lives of people in society? ›Those who get an education have higher incomes, have more opportunities in their lives, and tend to be healthier. Societies benefit as well. Societies with high rates of education completion have lower crime, better overall health, and civic involvement. Lack of access to education is considered the root of poverty.
Why is education important 10 points? ›Education helps to build character as you learn about different cultures, languages, and how other people think as well as live. When you have an education you are able to fulfill the basic needs in life. You are taught to get dressed and learn self-care and practical life skills.
Why is education important 5 sentences? ›5 Lines on Education
1) Education is the process of learning. 2) Education helps us to develop skills. 3) An educated person is respected everywhere. 4) Education helps to attain success in life.
Education Helps in Creation of a better society.
An educated person is more likely to develop better moral and ethical values as compared to an uneducated person. Lack of education creates problems like superstition, domestic violence, poor health, and poor living standards.
The Importance of Education in Community Development
Education is an important tool for community development because it helps to create a sense of community identity and shared purpose. It can also help to build the skills and knowledge needed for people to work together to address common problems.
Education is a means of achieving a world of peace, justice, freedom, and equality for all. Thus, education is extremely necessary for all. No good life is possible without education. It indorses the intelligence of human beings, develops his skill, and enables him to be industrious.
What is the relationship between education and society? ›Education and society both are inter-related or inter-dependent because both mutually influence each other i.e. complimentary. Without education, how we can build an ideal society and without society how we can organize education system systematically that means both are needed to understand.
What is the impact of education on social change? ›Education can initiate social changes by bringing about a change in outlook and attitude of man. It can bring about a change in the pattern of social relationships and institutions and thereby it may cause social change. Thus, education has brought about phenomenal changes in every aspect of man's life.
What is education biggest contribution to society's growth and development? ›
Education enriches people's understanding of themselves and world. It improves the quality of their lives and leads to broad social benefits to individuals and society. Education raises people's productivity and creativity and promotes entrepreneurship and technological advances.