Question 1

Sociologists have noted that the informal teaching practices and power relationships by which schools operate produce a disconnect between democratic values and what actually goes on in schools.About what concept are such arguments referring?

Accepted Answer

The arguments are referring to the concept of the hidden curriculum, which refers to the implicit messages and values that are taught in schools through the school culture, norms, and socialization processes, in addition to the formal curriculum. These messages can reinforce unequal power relations and social hierarchies, and may be in tension with democratic values.

Question 2

How does the textbook define the "hidden curriculum"?

Accepted Answer

The textbook defines the "hidden curriculum" as lessons that students learn indirectly through the method in which the curriculum is presented and the way the school is organized. This includes things like social norms, values, and beliefs that are conveyed through the school environment and interactions with teachers and peers.

Question 3

What does sociologist Randall Collins argue is the true function of schools?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does sociologist Randall Collins argue is...

Question 4

In his book,Savage Inequalities,Jonathan Kozol,a former teacher,conducted an ethnography of public schools in major cities across the United States.According to his study,how do schools reinforce inequality?

Accepted Answer

Kozol's study found that the reliance on local property taxes to fund public schools led to significant funding differences between wealthy and poor neighborhoods, resulting in poor children being trapped in poorly funded schools. This perpetuated educational inequality and reinforced broader social and economic inequality.

Question 5

Jacobson and Rosenthal's Pygmalion in the Classroom showed that:

Accepted Answer

Jacobson and Rosenthal's Pygmalion in the Classroom study showed that teachers' expectations had a significant effect on students' performance. Students whom teachers expected to do well tended to fare better in the classroom. This phenomenon is now known as the "Pygmalion effect" or the "self-fulfilling prophecy" and has been widely studied in the field of education. The study did not support any of the other answer choices.

Question 6

In Schooling in Capitalist America,Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis argued that schools train a labor force in the skills and attitudes necessary for the health of a modern economy.What are these skills and attitudes?

Accepted Answer

Bowles and Gintis argue that schools train students to be obedient and accepting of authority, a skill that is valuable in the workplace where workers are expected to follow orders and perform repetitive tasks. The other options (A, B, and C) may be important skills for success in certain professions, but Bowles and Gintis specifically focus on the role of schools in preparing students for the demands of the modern economy.

Question 7

When students are tested and the test results are used to place them in a certain category of classes (remedial,advanced,college prep,etc.),this process is called:

Accepted Answer

Tracking refers to the practice of dividing students into different groups based on their academic performance, which can have significant implications on their future educational and career opportunities. It has been criticized for perpetuating inequality and limiting student potential, particularly for students from historically marginalized groups.

Question 8

Before 1900,approximately what percentage of Americans graduated from high school?

Accepted Answer

Before 1900, only a small percentage of Americans graduated from high school, with estimates suggesting that about 2 percent of the population completed high school. This was largely due to limited access to education and the need for many young people to work in order to support their families.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of how the hidden curriculum can reinforce inequality?

Accepted Answer

The fact that most professors and administrators are white and heterosexual reinforces the idea that certain groups are superior to others and can contribute to inequality. This sends a message to students that success and power are associated with a particular demographic, which can perpetuate existing social inequalities.

Question 10

Public schools that are run by private entities are called:

Accepted Answer

Schools that are run by private entities but funded by public money are called charter schools. Religious schools are often private schools, and homeschools are typically run by families. Secular schools are public schools that are run by the government.

Question 11

Which of the following is a criticism of the No Child Left Behind Act passed by Congress in 2002?

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that the No Child Left Behind Act's emphasis on standardized testing and the consequences for schools that do not meet certain benchmarks puts pressure on educators to focus solely on test preparation, rather than providing a well-rounded education.

Question 12

What was Jonathan Kozol's impression of the poorly funded schools he visited in urban Chicago?

Accepted Answer

Jonathan Kozol's impression of the poorly funded schools he visited in urban Chicago was that they were extraordinarily unhappy places. He describes a lack of resources, crumbling facilities, and overwhelmed teachers, which all contributed to a bleak and depressing environment for students.

Question 13

According to Randall Collins,our educational system is much like a "tribal initiation rite," a "secret society," or a "closed occupational caste": not a rational system that produces more efficient production,but a mechanism for:

Accepted Answer

Collins argues that the educational system serves to reproduce the existing class structure, rather than producing more efficient production or teaching necessary values. It operates as a closed occupational caste in which individuals are sorted and allocated to different levels of the social hierarchy based on their performance in the educational system. This perpetuates and reinforces existing class divisions, rather than creating a more meritocratic society.

Question 14

According to Randall Collins,why do members of lucrative professions like law and medicine support the current educational system?

Accepted Answer

Collins argues that those in lucrative professions like law and medicine support the current educational system because it helps keep competition down and ensures a larger pool of workers for less lucrative professions. This is beneficial for those in lucrative professions as it minimizes competition and thus protects their job security and earning potential.

Question 15

What is one example of how America's educational system is in crisis?

Accepted Answer

Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the US has lower literacy rates compared to other developed countries. According to a report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, nearly two-thirds of the fourth graders in the US are not proficient in reading, which is a sign of the crisis in America's educational system.

Question 16

What does a sociological perspective tell us about education in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The sociological perspective suggests that educational success is not solely determined by individual ability, but is also influenced by social stratification, such as race, class, and gender. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities for academic success. Additionally, factors such as school funding, teacher quality, and curriculum can also impact educational outcomes. Therefore, understanding the larger sociological context is essential for understanding education in the United States.

Question 17

What does the sociologist Randall Collins recommend to reform the American educational system?

Accepted Answer

Randall Collins suggests that making it illegal for employers to ask about educational credentials would reduce the emphasis on formal education and degrees, which he believes are not always indicative of a person's ability to perform a job.

Question 18

In recent years,some schools and educators have adopted a "flipping the classroom" approach.This teaching method relies on in-class problem-solving activities,supplemented by online lectures that students can watch on their own time as part of their homework.Critics of this teaching method argue that:

Accepted Answer

The main criticism of the "flipped" classroom approach is that not all students have access to technology and the internet to watch the online lectures at home. This can create an inequitable learning environment and put some students at a disadvantage. The other options presented (A, B, and C) are not supported by research or evidence.

Question 19

What subjects were taught in European universities during the Middle Ages?

Accepted Answer

European universities during the Middle Ages typically included law, theology, and medicine in their curriculum. These subjects represented the trivium and quadrivium of classical education, which encompassed seven liberal arts: grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. While theology was a dominant subject, the universities also emphasized practical knowledge and skills in law and medicine to serve the needs of society.

Question 20

What variable would account for the dramatic jump in test scores evidenced by the students in Rosenthal and Jacobson's Pygmalion in the Classroom?

Accepted Answer

The Pygmalion effect is a phenomenon where higher expectations lead to an increase in performance. In the study, the teacher's positive attitude and expectations of the students led to their significant improvement in test scores. Therefore, teacher attitudes would be the variable that accounts for the dramatic jump in test scores.

Quiz 10: Social Institutions: Politics, Education, and Religion