Defending sociology
Sir: If it were not for the disgraceful headline his article was given, Jonathan Beathall's discussion of sociology in schools (19 November) might have contributed to the debates which sociology teachers themselves engage in. Most of them are members of my Association and I can assure your readers that very little of what Benthall saYs is not the subject of continuing debate.
What is he saying? — Sociology is a distinctive twentieth' century contribution to civilisation; — Sociology ought to be the most respected of subjects; — Sociology, properly taught, could be of value in schools.
No sociology teacher would disagree with any of this obviously. The issue all turns on What is meant by sociology being 'properly taught'. As a school subject sociology is little more than ten years old; in that time a great deal of experience and expertise has been built up concerning how best to teach It. But no one pretends that ten years is time enough in which to establish a pedagogy which meets the needs of the subject, the pupils, the teachers and society itself.
Sociology is a challenging and thought. Provoking subject; all the more reason to continue to improve the professional skills involved in teaching it. Why should children be denied a subject simply because it is difficult? Children experience the social world as much as adults — why should they not be Offered the chance of learning about it systematically? What are the implications of saying that they should be allowed to marry but not to study sociology!?
Few members of ATSS would deny the difficulties of effectively establishing sociology in schools as a useful and interesting alea of study for young people. Unlike Benthall, however, they believe that the value of the subject demands that they go on improving their pedagogy rather than give their students second-best.
C. H. Brown Chairman, Association for the Teaching of the Social Sciences, 19 Mandeville Gardens, Walsall
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