The application of sociological concepts yields nights into the understanding of educational problems. It is a two-prong process. On the one hand, it sharpens the sociological conceptualization of tools and techniques, enriches the discipline, and on the other, gives new illumination towards the solution of educational problem.
Educational sociology is an important division of sociological studies. It makes an effort to achieve the aims of sociology through educational process which occurs between the individual and the society.It is concerned with educational aims, methods, institutions, administration and curricula, n relation to economic, political, religious, social and cultural forces of the society in which they function. Educational sociology is a new branch of sociology. It was Henry Casually who gave the first courses in educational sociology in 1907; the first text being written by Walter R.
Smith in 1917. 1. The first Journal of Educational Sociology was started in 1927. Then there came the publication of the Journal of Social Education in 1936. All this happened in the United States of America. 2.
The initiative then was taken up by the Education Commission which called together "a group of sociologists to discuss the sociology of education and the immediate contribution sociologists could make in the foundation of Education Policy'. 3. The deliberations of the seminars are published in the book form. 4.
The essential character of Educational sociology is derived from sociology, said otherwise, Educational sociology as defined by Cook and Cook is "the application of sociological knowledge and technique to educational robber in the field of human relations and material well - being" 5.Karl Anaheim and Stewart have yet another point to make for defining Educational sociology. To them, an enquiry into the sociological foundation of education cannot be purely academic one, pilling up facts for their own sake. 6. Burton Clark makes yet another point for sociology of education.
He says that society and education are inseparable and one who writes a general sociology need understand educational affairs, "who says Society, says Education". 7.Robert Startup defines Educational sociology as, "the application of general principles and findings of sociology to the administration and process of education. This approach attempts to apply principles of Sociology to the instruction of education as a separate social unit". 8.
M. S Gore and others observe "the sociological analysis of any concrete system of education can be conveniently organized along two dimensions- one a discussion of the relationship between the education system and the other segments of the social system, and two, a discussion of the system of education itself.
