A Reflection on Sociology of Education

Abstract

Following an evident scientific strength of Sociology of Education, especially in the macro-analysis of school phenomena and, in a second moment, in the analysis of school as an organisation, is it possible that, currently, there is a reduction in the centrality of the importance ascribed, at various levels, to this scientific area? This preliminary reflection, which is based on a perspective from Portugal, aims to put forward an insight about Sociology of Education, with all the risks that this kind of analysis entails. Conclusions point to the following relevant dimensions of Sociology of Education: its importance in the definition of several sociological paradigms, considering the (greater or lesser) relevance ascribed to the socialisation process; its specific contribution to the sociological understanding of educational phenomena in the training of future sociologists; and, also, its prospective contribution to the development of Educational Sciences, both in the understanding of educational phenomena in their broadest sense and in dialoguing and participating in discussions on the object of Educational Sciences themselves. So as to achieve this ambition, among other factors, it seems essential that Sociology of Education continues to deepen its knowledge about other educational dimensions beyond school and the phenomena directly connected to it, dialoguing, whenever heuristically relevant, with other scientific areas.