Thursday, 8 January 2015

Jill Brothwell (Chapter 1)

Sorry this post is late but I was driving all yesterday (with no service) and was pre-occupied until now. But here we go...


Chapter one of Sociology of Education in Canada was quite interesting. Karen Robson brought up many ideas that I was unfamiliar with, as well as issues I had not previously heard of. I was appalled when I read about the situation at the Attawapiskat First Nations, I cannot believe such serious situations were just brushed off like that, and I feel especially ignorant for not knowing about this situation. Robeson introduces the term Sociology of education, she states, "the sociology of educations is a way of examining education in order to understand how social structures shape various aspects of education (2). That term is helpful in understanding the situation at the Attawapiskat First Nations. The sociology of education also helps to put specific situations into perspective and lend understanding into situations in regard to circumstance and influence that social structures have on education (2). Reading about the awful conditions that many had to endure, made me very grateful for the school I went to as a child and the education I received. I know that the social structures that surrounded me and my community had great influence on my education. I realized that there are so many things that I had that are easily taken granted for when we realize what people in our own province and close provincial neighbors had to endure. As a child I was able to go to a school that was 5 minutes from my house, had heat, a library, gymnasium, clean air to breathe and a safe environment to learn and safe schoolyard to play with equipment and structures. Unlike Shannen Koostachin, I was able to go to high school in my own town and didn’t have to leave home at 13 years of age just to receive a good education (5). This chapter was definitely eye opening.

Discussion question:

What is another example of a social structure here in Manitoba that has an influence on education?

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