Beyond Differences The Sociology of Education in Cuba (original) (raw)

The essay presents an in-depth analysis of the institutionalization of the Sociology of Education in Cuba, ranging from a critical investigation of the discipline to its inclusion in the curriculum for teacher training in contemporary Cuba. The essay describes the findings of several studies undertaken to determine the causes and consequences of, and solutions to, various issues surrounding the relationship between society and education. It also notes the insufficient instruction given to Cuban teachers about sociological issues and the lack of texts that identify the key problems in a clear and systematic way. The investigation concludes with suggestions on consolidating the discipline within the sociological context of contemporary Cuba. Such suggestions include the need for connections between macro-and micro-sociological issues, the need for educational institutions to launch internal studies of themselves and the need for an examination of how changes in educational policy affect society. Such efforts would both contribute to the development of the discipline and to a better understanding of the relationship between education and society. keywords: educational system ✦ institutionalization ✦ school ✦ sociological disciplines ✦ Sociology of Education The institutionalization process of a discipline is complex, especially with a science as young as sociology. Such a process requires a critical examination of how the discipline is taught, how its studies are conducted and how the published results of such studies relate to previous scientific research. Cuba is an interesting country in which to examine the institutionalization of a science because it is a country where the teaching and promotion of the sciences has been a priority of the established socialist system since January 1959. Therefore, scientific disciplines receive a great deal of attention from politicians and involve a large number of social actors. In addition to critiques , the articles cited in this essay examine efforts that contribute directly