THE TWO-FOLD FUNCTIONS of EDUCATION

GROUP 5

Two-Fold Functions of Education

Definition:
Education is a process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes in
order to facilitate personal development and contribute to the well-being of society. It
is a lifelong journey that involves the acquisition of information, understanding of
concepts, and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Education can take place in formal settings, such as schools and universities, as well as
in informal settings, such as through self-directed learning and experiences in everyday
life.

The goals of education often include preparing individuals for various aspects of
life, including work, citizenship, personal enrichment, and social interaction. Formal
education typically progresses through structured levels, such as preschool, primary
school, secondary school, and higher education. However, education is not limited to
these formal institutions; it can occur in various forms, including vocational training,
online courses, workshops, and hands-on experiences.

Education plays a crucial role in shaping individuals and societies, fostering

intellectual and personal growth, promoting social cohesion, and contributing to
economic development. It is considered a fundamental human right and a key factor in
promoting equality and reducing disparities in opportunities and outcomes.

Effects in Education
Manifest
A manifest function of education is the obvious and intended purpose of school
such as career training or career selection. These types of functions are clearly stated
or talked about, especially in the curriculum or in a school's vision statement.

Common manifest functions

1. Socialization - people learn how to become functioning members of society.
Individuals attain a personal identity by learning knowledge, language, and
social skills that will help them function well with others.
a. Rules and expectations - Rules and expectations are not always innate.
The social contract theory is a model that explains how societies and
communities create rules or expectations based on agreed-upon morals
or values.
b. Following schedules - Students are expected to be in their first class by a
specific time and must get to their next classes before the bell rings.
c. Submitting to authority - In a traditional classroom, desks are placed in
straight lines facing the teacher, students must raise their hand to speak,
and they need permission to leave the room.
Through socialization, students learn rules and expectations from their teachers and
peers. Students also learn these rules and expectations through interactions.

2. Cultural transmission - a process in which cultural norms and values are

transmitted to future generations. Cultural transmission is often a part of
socialization but focuses on learning the norms and values specific to a culture.
a. Civics classes - students take civics courses, which teach them the
behaviours and rights of U.S. citizens. These lessons emphasize learning
the U.S. Constitution, voting, and service learning.
b. Pledge of Allegiance - Although students are no longer required to
actively participate in the salute or pledge to the flag, the ritual is still
performed in schools.
c. Capitalistic Values - Students are taught teamwork and competition
inside the classroom through collaborative and cooperative group work
and activities. Outside the classroom, extracurriculars like sports or music
teach these skills.
3. Rational thinking - helps students think critically through deductive reasoning
and thinking processes.
a. Five-paragraph essay - This essay allows students to evolve and defend
their argument, allowing them to analyze multiple resources and forms of
reasoning to conclude.
b. Scientific Method - This method asks students to observe/question,
research, hypothesize, test, analyze, and report.
c. Deductive Reasoning - By utilizing multiple statements to form an
argument, students are taught to draw conclusions rather than taking
information at face value.
4. Career selection - Schools are seen as a way to prepare students to achieve
their career goals. Helping students with their career selection prepares them for
their future success in their ultimate field.
a. Asking children what they want to be when they grow up - This will get
them to think about their future.
b. Career planning - many schools may invite college recruits to the school
or teach students how to write a high-performing college essay.
c. Career quizzes - By answering a series of personal questions, the quiz will
tell us what type of career is recommended based on our skills and
preferences.
d. Electives - Electives are classes students take in addition to their core
classes, like reading, writing, or geometry. Electives can be used as a way
to explore areas of interest and prepare students for selecting a career by
studying a specialty in depth. Depending on the school, students can take
electives in anatomy, astronomy, or even car repair, to name just a few
examples.
Latent
A latent function is the unintended and often unnoticed outcomes that occur as
individuals go to school, interact with peers and adults, and follow the established rules
of the educational system.
A school's hidden curriculum is the unintentional lessons that prepare students to
fit into society such as the dependency on reward or rejection of certain behaviors.

Latent functions of education in society:

1. Restricting Activities
- In our society, some laws require children to attend school or complete a
primary and secondary education.
- Keep students off the street and out of the full-time job market for several
years, by helping keep unemployment within reasonable bounds.
2. Matchmaking & production of social networks
- Education brings together people of similar age, social class, and
race/ethnicity, young people often meet future marriage partners and
develop social networks.
3. Generation Gap
- Students may learn information in school that contradicts beliefs held by
their parents. This is created when education conflicts with parental
beliefs.
 Key Differences and Similarities between
Manifest Function and Latent Function

Differences between Manifest Function and Latent Function

INTENTIONALITY
Manifest Function: The manifest function Latent Function: Latent functions are
of education is intentional, planned, and unintentional, often disregarded, and not
openly acknowledged. It represents the part of the official goals. They are implicit
stated and visible goals of the outcomes that emerge as secondary
educational system, such as imparting consequences of the educational process.
knowledge and skills.

FORMALITY
Manifest Function: Manifest functions are Latent Function: Latent functions are
formal and structured aspects of informal and may not be part of the
education. They are part of the official formal structure of education. They can
curriculum, institutionalised goals, and include aspects such as the development
recognized educational practices. of social networks, informal norms, and
unspoken rules.

DIRECTNESS
Manifest Function: Manifest functions Latent Function: Latent functions may
have a direct relationship with the stated have indirect or unexpected relationships
goals of education. For example, the with the formal goals of education. For
manifest function of teaching instance, the development of social skills
mathematics is to impart mathematical may be a latent function not explicitly
knowledge to students. stated in the curriculum but arising from
interactions within the educational
environment.

To summarize, Manifest functions are the explicit, planned, and observable purposes
of education, such as formal learning and curriculum. In contrast, latent functions are
unintended, often hidden consequences that emerge as secondary outcomes of the
educational process, including the development of social skills and the transmission
of cultural norms. While manifest functions are consciously acknowledged and
recognized, latent functions operate beneath the surface, influencing individuals and
society in ways that may not be immediately apparent.
Similarities between Manifest Function and Latent Function

IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS
Manifest Function: Manifest functions Latent Function: Latent functions also
directly impact individuals' learning influence individuals, but in ways that
experiences and educational outcomes. may not be immediately apparent. They
They contribute to the acquisition of can shape social demeanors, attitudes,
knowledge, skills, and academic and interpersonal skills.
achievements.

SOCIALIZATION
Manifest Function: Manifest functions, Latent Function: Latent functions, often
such as formal instruction and through informal interactions and the
curriculum, contribute to the socialization hidden curriculum, also play a role in
of individuals by transmitting cultural socialization by conveying societal norms
knowledge and values. and expectations.

LIFE-LONG IMPACTS
Manifest Function: Manifest functions, by Latent Function: Latent functions can
design, contribute to individuals' also have a lasting impact on lifelong
acquisition of knowledge and skills that learning by shaping individuals' attitudes
are deemed essential for lifelong toward learning, collaboration, and
learning. adaptation to social norms.

To summarize this table, the similarities between Manifest and Latent Function are
that they both help in shaping an individual, both operate within the educational
system, impacting personal development and contributing to social cohesion. They
are embedded in formal structures and informal interactions, influencing socialization
and contributing to lifelong learning. Despite their differences, manifest and latent
functions collectively shape the educational experience, offering both planned and
unplanned benefits.
 Effects in Society
Pros
The following are some of the pros of education in society:

1. Economic growth
- Education paves the way for economic development, it helps contribute to
the creation of a skilled and knowledgeable labor force. It can also
motivate others to start entrepreneurial ideas that soon evolve into
large-scale businesses which ultimately serve a vital purpose in economic
growth.
2. Social mobility
- Education is a powerful tool for promoting social mobility. It allows
individuals to get better opportunities, climb up the economic ladder, and
improve their socio-economic status of birth.
3. Democracy and social awareness
- An educated populace is essential for the functioning of a democratic
society. Education promotes civic awareness, activism, and compassion
for fellow countrymen. Ensuring that any semblance of dictatorship or
tyranny does not arise, is vital for the maintenance of a fair and just
society.
4. Technological advancement
- Education is a driver of technological progress. It equips individuals with
the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to and benefit from
advancements in science and technology, setting the foundation for
innovation and progress.
5. Personal and social development
- Education is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about
development in our social and personal aspects. It helps individuals
develop critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, communication
skills, and connections with other people that last for a lifetime, be it
friends, peers, or a spouse. These people will be valuable in various
aspects of our lives.

Cons
These are the issues that urgently need addressing, every child in this world
should have access to school, to education, and to learn in life.

● Money, why does everything in the world have to work around money, around
budgets? Well we need budgets to live, or money would just fly out the door, but
we still need to learn and work out ways of prioritizing money, especially on
education. Education is the platform to start your career, it gives you the ability
to learn a range of different subjects and choose what path/ route you want to
follow for your future.
● Poverty has long been a pervasive and intractable challenge in the Philippines,
and education remains one of the most critical casualties of this social malady.
Consequently, education becomes an unaffordable luxury for many families,
especially those living in the most impoverished communities. The inability to
send their children to school forces them to work instead, perpetuating the cycle
of poverty for generations.

● The lack of resources and infrastructure in schools affects the quality of

education that students receive. Without proper facilities, students may not be
able to attend classes regularly, or they may be distracted by external factors,
making it difficult for them to concentrate on their studies. The lack of textbooks
and teaching materials also hinders the learning process, as students may not
have access to the necessary information to understand the concepts taught in
class.

● The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly brought numerous challenges to the

education system of the Philippines, affecting not only students but also
teachers, parents, and educational institutions. In March 2020, the Philippine
government ordered the closure of schools to curb the spread of the virus. As a
result, millions of students had to shift to online or distance learning, which was a
struggle for those without access to technology or reliable internet connection.