The Role of Social Institutions in Society - Essay Example

The Role of Educational s in Society Social s serve a vital role in terms of societal cohesion and progression. The construction of social institutions are inevitably based on the intrinsic values of a society because they are inevitably constructed by individuals with shared values. Specifically, the most invasive institution in modern society is the education system because participation is compulsory. This form of forced knowledge inevitably leads to a society where the values shared by individuals are delivered through educational facilities.

The infrastructure of education uses a model of standardized testing and curriculum to ensure that students across the country share the same ideological framework. The education system is invasive because it controls the methodology through which individuals perceive history and the function of other institutions that make up the social nexus (Berger, 1966). For example, the dissemination of information regarding the history of mankind focuses on the history of nation states (Berger, 1966). This creates a society where individuals believe that the existence of a government is inevitable and are therefore not capable of perceiving a reality that extends beyond it.

The deepest values of society are taught within this institution, from political organizations to capitalism. Regardless of the political party that individuals align with or the method through which they accumulate capital, they still value participation within these systems (Berger, 1966). Social values are shared by individuals who make up community. Such values help define the parameters of a culture and characterize the individuals within it. The educational system is an effective social institution that helps embed such values in growing citizens.

As a social institution, the educational system is the most pervasive as well as the most effective at ingraining social values in individuals. Works Cited Berger, P. L. and T. Luckmann (1966), The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge, Anchor Books, Garden City, NY.