CONCEPTUALIZING THE SCHOOL AS A SOCIAL ORGANIZATION: A SOCIO-CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION IN TODAY’S COMPLEX WORLD

Abstract

School is much more than just a space for in-person interaction; it is a social organization that plays a pivotal role in the education of children and young people and in fostering the skills necessary for a well-rounded education. That is why it is essential to analyze it from a socio-critical perspective that takes into account the power relations, conflicts of interest, and social dynamics that shape it. The main objective of this article was to reflect on the importance of understanding the school as a social organization in a context of growing and ongoing complexity. In this scholarly narrative, the social and cultural transformations in the vision of the school are analyzed from pivotal historical moments in a generalized manner, using a hermeneutic method that emphasizes interpretation based on a review of the sociological foundations of school functioning. This approach was consolidated through content analysis and aligned with the interpretive paradigm. Significant findings include the observation that, within its sphere of responsibility, the school exerts an impact on the internal dynamics of the social relationships established within it; hence, the conception of the school as a social organization that transcends the school infrastructure to emerge as the epicenter of change and the transformation of continuous learning experiences.