Deck 15: The School

Question 1

Which of the following measures of academic performance is (are) associated with delinquency?

A) placement in noncollege tracks
B) grades of D or F
C) lower scores on tests measuring academic achievement
D) placement in special education tracks
E) all of the above

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Which of the following school experiences is (are) associated with delinquency?

A) little time spent on school homework
B) a belief that school is boring or a waste of time
C) cutting classes
D) negative relations with teachers
E) all of the above

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Given current research, it is most likely that the association between school experiences and delinquency is due to:

A) school experiences having a causal effect on delinquency
B) delinquency having a causal effect on school experiences
C) one or more third variables having a causal effect on both school experiences and delinquency
D) all of above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Research data indicate that school-age children:

A) are more likely to be victimized at school than away from school
B) are at ever-increasing risk for school crime
C) have a high probability of experiencing violent crime while at school
D) none of the above

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an "effective" school?

A) small, with good resources
B) good relations between teachers and administration
C) consistent and severe discipline
D) high expectations for students

Question 6

School differences in delinquency are partly a function of the:

A) racial and ethnic backgrounds of the teachers
B) communities in which the schools are located
C) educational level of the teachers
D) all of the above

Question 7

School differences in delinquency are partly a function of:

A) community involvement
B) racial and ethnic backgrounds of the teachers
C) ratio of counselors to students
D) all of the above

Question 8

Some studies show that delinquency rates are _______ in schools that use physical punishment in comparison with schools that do not.

A) much lower
B) slightly lower
C) higher
D) the same

Question 9

According to Agnew and Brezina, the fact that private schools generally have lower rates of delinquency than public schools is in part due to the tendency for private schools to:

A) place less emphasis on nurturing students
B) have stricter discipline and greater academic challenges
C) emphasize religion
D) all of the above

Question 10

Serious theft is ______ in most schools.

A) unknown
B) common
C) rare
D) none of the above

Question 11

Homicides are most likely to occur:

A) away from school
B) in school
C) at school functions, such as football games
D) homicides are equally likely to occur at the locations listed above

Question 12

Crimes involving serious injury and major financial losses are _______ in most schools.

A) common
B) rare
C) inconsequential
D) none of the above

Question 13

Most estimates suggest that about _______ of students are subject to bullying each year.

A) 1%-5%
B) 15%-20%
C) 50%-55%
D) 80%-85%

Question 14

If the association between school experiences and delinquency reflects third variables, then programs designed to improve school experiences would:

A) have little effect
B) have a significant effect
C) have no effect
D) none of the above

Question 15

Delinquency rates are higher in schools that have a higher percentage of students who are:

A) poor
B) male
C) members of minority groups
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 16

Delinquency rates are also higher in schools that:

A) are located in urban communities
B) have high rates of unemployment
C) have high rates of female-headed households
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding gender and bullying is TRUE:

A) girls appear to have greater empathy for victims of bullying
B) boys are more likely to report that they "feel sorry for" those who are bullied
C) girls are more likely to be the victims of bullying than boys
D) girls are more likely to report that they have engaged in bullying

Question 18

Which of the following is a dimension of bullying?

A) it involves behavior designed to harm or disturb oneself
B) it occurs on a repeated basis
C) it involves a less powerful person attacking a more powerful one
D) none of the above

Question 19

Which of the following statements regarding school shooters is TRUE:

A) most school shooters communicate their intentions in advance
B) school shooters are more likely to be bullies than victims of bullying
C) school shooters are usually quite popular among their peers
D) none of the above

Question 20

Data on trends in school crime are somewhat mixed, but they generally suggest that:

A) most forms of school crime have increased since the early to mid-1990s
B) most forms of school crime have declined since the early to mid-1990s
C) serious school crime is increasing, but minor school crime is decreasing
D) homicides at schools have increased since 1993

Question 21

Discuss how school experiences are associated with delinquency. Provide reasons why some juveniles have negative school experiences and how these experiences affect delinquency.

Question 22

Defend the position that negative school experiences do not cause delinquency.

Question 23

Agnew and Brezina suggest that the association between school experiences and delinquency might reflect third variables. What are some third variables that support this statement?

Question 24

Identify characteristics of an "effective" school and explain why these characteristics reduce the likelihood of delinquency.

Question 25

What does "warm but firm" mean, and how is it applied to schools? Discuss the types of punishment schools should impose to reduce delinquency.

Question 26

Draw on Agnew and Brezina's description of effective schools to explain why private schools tend to have less delinquency than public schools.

Question 27

Use strain, social learning, control, and labeling theories to explain the relationship between school characteristics and delinquency.

Question 28

According to Agnew and Brezina, school experiences are affected by a range of background factors. What are some of these factors? Discuss their importance to school experiences.

Question 29

Discuss the "threat assessment" approach to school violence.

Question 30

Discuss the three dimensions of bullying that your textbook addresses. What are the effects of bullying?

Question 31

Discuss how bullying experiences are different for boys and girls.

Question 32

The debate over whether school experiences have a causal effect on delinquency has important policy implications. What are these potential policy implications?

Question 33

What do the data on trends in school crime suggest? Has school crime been increasing or decreasing since the 1990s?

Question 34

What are the two similarities discussed in the textbook between the tragic killing spree in Santee, California and other high-profile school shootings?

Question 35

As discussed in the textbook, Gottfredson and Gottfredson (1985) note that "much of the 'victimization' that occurs in schools involves minor indignities." What do they mean by the term "minor indignities"? Provide three examples of "minor indignities."

Question 36

Where is serious violent victimization (rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) more likely to occur-at school or away from school? Why do you think that is?

Question 37

Where is homicide more likely to occur-at school or away from school? Why do you think that is?

Question 38

What is the most common form of delinquency that occurs at schools? What is the least common form of delinquency that occurs at schools?

Question 39

How do misbehavior and delinquency affect school experiences? Provide examples.

Question 40

If someone made the statement that school violence, especially homicides, seems to be increasing at uncontrollable levels, how would you respond to that person? What information from the textbook would you point to when formulating your response?