The Significance and Future of the “Reference Standards” in Teacher-training Courses

Abstract

This paper examines the role of sociology in teacher-training courses by reviewing the “Reference Standards.” Sociology in teacher-training courses stands between high specialty and general knowledge, and has three main roles: sociology for general education, sociology as a requirement for social studies education, and sociology for providing teachers with useful information. This paper asserts that although standardization of sociological education based on the “Reference Standards” is inevitable, what is questioned is the degree of standardization depending on the context of education; it further suggests the necessity of intervention so that sociology should be involved in primary/secondary education in order to showcase the raison d'etre of sociology.