Children, Families, and Schools
Education is one of the most important social institutions in society because it teaches individuals the knowledge, norms, and values they need to become productive members of their community. The textbook Social Problems: Continuity and Change (v.1.0) explains that formal education, or schooling under trained professionals, became widespread in the United States during the nineteenth century as the nation industrialized. Compulsory education laws were created to promote national unity and prepare immigrants and working-class children for life in an industrial economy. In early America, only wealthy white males received formal schooling, while others learned informally at home or through apprenticeships. Over time, free and required schooling expanded access for all social classes, although inequalities still exist today. In modern society, the U.S. education system involves millions of students and teachers across more than 130,000 schools nationwide. However, the correlates of e...