Overview
This lecture introduces the concept of the hidden curriculum in schools, emphasizing the implicit lessons students learn beyond formal academic subjects.
Formal vs. Hidden Curriculum
- The formal curriculum includes academic subjects with official guidelines, such as math, reading, social sciences, and arts.
- The hidden curriculum refers to unspoken norms, values, and procedures learned in school settings.
Norms in the Hidden Curriculum
- Students learn behaviors like raising hands, taking turns, and sitting quietly at desks.
- Following school rules and routines is a key part of socialization in education.
Values in the Hidden Curriculum
- Hard work, academic ambition, and meritocracy are promoted within the school environment.
- Success is often linked to effort, with advancement opportunities (e.g., post-secondary education) seen as a reward for achievement.
- "Streaming" separates students based on perceived academic ability, impacting future educational pathways.
Procedures and Rules
- Schools teach procedures like recess and lunch routines, as well as disciplinary measures.
- Disciplinary policies range from basic rules to "zero tolerance" approaches for infractions.
- Students must navigate and adapt to systems like detentions, suspensions, and expulsions, which intensify with age.
Sociological Perspective
- Sociology examines the hidden curriculum to understand how schools transmit social expectations and reinforce societal structures.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Formal Curriculum — the official academic content and subjects taught in schools.
- Hidden Curriculum — the implicit norms, values, and routines learned through school culture.
- Meritocracy — a system where advancement is based on individual achievement or effort.
- Streaming — sorting students into different educational tracks based on perceived ability.
- Zero Tolerance Policy — strict enforcement of predetermined rules resulting in automatic consequences for infractions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review your own school experiences for examples of hidden curriculum in action.
- Consider how the hidden curriculum might influence different student outcomes.
- Prepare for further discussion on sociological perspectives of education.