Many cultural anthropologists regard socialisation as a process of acculturation or the culture of a group. In the words of Martin and Stendlar, “Culture refers to the total way of life of a people that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits, acquired by man as a member of society.”
This means that for the adoption of a culture one must participate in the activities of the society. One must mix up with others to learn the habits etc. of the society to which one belongs. In other words, to socialise oneself one must learn the culture of the society.
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Culture and Need for Schooling:
Society is very keen that its young members should not lapse into barbarity and ignorance. Whatever it has attained in social, cultural, religious and other fields, it feels its bounden duty to transmit it to the next generation.
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As the society has become more complex and knowledge is piling up, it feels the need for formal education and thus society starts schools to educate its members. The purpose is two-fold:-
1. Transmission of cultural heritage.
2. Improvement of the cultural heritage.
1. Transmission of cultural heritage:
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To perpetuate present progress we should transmit the cultural heritage. Only physical reproduction is not sufficient we should equip the new generation with our attainments in all fields of life. Here we should exploit the innate tendencies, needs and interests of the children for the purpose of education. Our education should also be in consonance with the mental ‘make-up’ of the students.
2. Improvement of the cultural heritage:
Without improvement the culture will stagnate. Education is not only to reflect the social conditions but also it improves them. With the advancement of science and technology our ways of life are also undergoing tremendous change. If we do not cope with the present advancement there would be ‘cultural lag’. We must adjust ourselves with the fast changing world.
So education must adapt itself to the changing conditions. But as always happens some new things are not very desirable. So we shall have to guard ourselves against the tendency of the schools to import everything new in the society. Its old and outmoded things are to be discarded. We shall have to be vigilant against blind and slavish imitation of the new developments.
It is though education that we can prepare students to evaluate the past and understand the present and to be prepared for the future. In short, the students should be taught to get inspiration from the inspiring past, to live in the dynamic present and to face the challenging future.