Final answer:
An elementary school isn't a total institution because students are allowed to leave at the end of the school day to go home, which differs from total institutions where individuals reside full-time.
Step-by-step explanation:
An elementary school is not considered a total institution because:
Students leave: In a total institution, individuals are completely cut off from the outside world, but in an elementary school, students go home at the end of the day and have interactions with their families and communities outside of school.
Teachers are constantly present: While teachers are present during school hours, they also have time off and do not live on school premises.
Limited curriculum structured: Elementary schools have a curriculum that is focused on foundational subjects like math, reading, science, and social studies, but it is not all-encompassing or rigidly structured like in a total institution.
No fixed schedule: Elementary schools have a set schedule, but it is not as strictly regulated as in a total institution where every aspect of a person's day is predetermined.
An elementary school is not considered a total institution because students leave the school environment at the end of each day. Unlike total institutions where individuals reside full-time and are cut off from the wider society, students in an elementary school go home to their families and engage with their communities outside school hours. Schools undoubtedly play a significant role in the socialization process by imparting structured education and social norms, but they operate within a limited schedule, typically around seven hours a day and only on weekdays, which allows students to have lives and influences outside of the school setting.
Despite the challenges of overcrowding and budget constraints that may lead to classes being held in trailers and Teachers are constantly multitasking due to lack of aides, the school environment provides a place for learning essential academic skills as well as social skills through interaction and activities.