, etc.

Education 101

“It’s all about the connections” is a motto that very student will come to utilize. There are so many important advantages that social upbringings will offer in life. By meaning, social capital is the resources provided by the connections between and within social networks. Social capital is the foundation of a high achievement level among students in school. Developed and molded by anyone, social capital offers great advantages. There is no set definition to “social capital’. Instead, it ranges from little things such as having a friend that is willing to help out in times of need. It can even be getting a family member an interview for a job. Social capital can be in the form of trust, information, power, influence, and even obligations. It can be the underlying ingredient a child needs to succeed.

For example, a parent that is not involved in his child’s academics gives no burden and expectations. The child can think, “ I don’t have to study”. The student easily can think that his mother and father will not reinforce good grades in school. This kind of influence is blocking the child from getting access to a better education. However, a student that has strict, controlling parents will feel the need to do well in school. If the parents are very hands on with the work, the student will be compelled to satisfy his parents. Social capital can cause variations in academic success. It is a useful tool for student’s motivation.

Another example of social capital in education can be the doors of opportunities offered by Parent Teacher Association. Commonly referred to as the “Pta”, a student with a parent in the association can have a positive outlook in the school and the surrounding community. Pta parents are on top of their things. They are aware of what the students need to be successful in a classroom. They know about the school safety, physical fitness and general well being of the child. An effective adult association such as the Pta can produce a great by-product on the children. Parents can discover great new resources that are available for their child. For example, Pta invites parents to act as full partners rather than guests in making school decisions. The mother who is involved in school can know about a better tutor in town or a cheaper place to buy supplies at. By receiving newsletters and frequent emails, parents in this association are always updated on the coming events. It forms a better relationship within the school. To be specific, teachers and parents can communicate on a normal basis about the student’s progress. Not only do these associations serve as a good resource center, but also it creates a community of support among the parents. This sort of bond can have an everlasting impact on the parents. Human resource is all incorporated in social capital.

Social capital is also applicable to religious groups. For example, being involved in a charity drive run by a local church can help the member of the community realize his surroundings. In doing so, the member can gain a honorable, creditable reputation. Religion groups form value sets and membership among the community. Having a strong, common faith can create a sense of belonging for the church members. The church instills in creating harmony and a caring environment for the members.

For incident, Saint Michaels Church raised 30,000 dollars for a pastor whose son was diagnosed with lung cancer. The church knew the financial difficulties of the family. They were having trouble paying for the radiation therapy following the surgery. Everyday, they would struggle with the bills of medical care. Therefore, the community in Saint Michaels Church created fundraisers to help raise money for the boy. This provides a great example of how religious social capital comes into play. The connections and friends made at the church assisted the pastor and his family into keeping his son alive.

In conclusion, social capital serves as a link between the outside world and the child. Children can learn the importance of connections from their parents. Examples such as having a mother in parent teacher association and having a father who is the pastor of a church demonstrates the benefits of social capital. In the past, the concept of social capital only applied to the wealthy, white class. In today’s generation, social capital is at use for everyone. It is up to the individual to get connections and the knowledge.