Deck 19: Equity, Ethics and Legal Issues in Teaching

Question 1

Equity in access to early childhood education is of critical importance because research suggests that the amount of brain development in the first five years of life is:

A) 45%.
B) 55%.
C) 65%.
D) 75%.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Is this statement True or False? 'Currently, over 80% of eligible Indigenous four year olds are enrolled in preschool.'

Answer 2

False ('Currently, only about 50% of eligible Indigenous four year olds are enrolled in preschool.')

Question 3

What is one of the arguments Woods (2007) makes about problems with the benchmark standards used in NAPLAN testing?

Answer 3

Any of the arguments expressed in the dot points towards the bottom of page 376.

Question 4

In the five 'types of ethical decision-making' shown in Table 19.1, a teacher referring an ethical issue to a school counsellor is an example of:

A) open decision-making.
B) limited decision-making.
C) decision-making by the teacher.
D) security seeking.

Question 5

Arthur (2010) criticised the new English curriculum content and associated testing regimes for their:

A) lack of focus on Indigenous issues.
B) lack of basic skills instruction.
C) emphasis on popular fiction texts.
D) focus only on the English language.

Question 6

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) reported that in 2010 the retention rate for the general population was 78% while for Indigenous students it was:

A) 27%.
B) 37%.
C) 47%.
D) 57%.

Question 7

Bullock (2002) defines bullying as:

A) physical assault on the part of one or more others.
B) repeated exposure over time to negative actions on the part of one or more others.
C) ongoing verbal harassment or name calling.
D) continuous unwanted overtures of friendship.

Question 8

Australian students from low-SES (socio-economic status) backgrounds are:

A) three times as likely as students from high-SES backgrounds to under-perform in literacy and numeracy.
B) more likely to be successful in vocational education courses.
C) more likely to struggle with the transition from school to work.
D) likely to escape poverty before they turn 12.

Question 9

The 2012 McAfee Teen Internet Behavior Study in the US found that the percentage of students who had sent sexually suggestive messages was:

A) 19%.
B) 29%.
C) 39%.
D) 49%.

Question 10

To what extent is equity addressed as a separate issue in the Australian Curriculum?

Question 11

McGaw (2007) suggests that one way to bridge the differences between advantaged and disadvantaged secondary schools would be to:

A) double the funding for disadvantaged schools.
B) place the best teachers in disadvantaged schools.
C) co-locate schools so resources can be shared.
D) ensure all schools have roughly the same mix of students.

Question 12

Is the following statement True or False? 'In Australia, the federal Education Minister has the power to intervene in ethical issues related to what is being taught in schools.'

Question 13

Sponsorship deals between schools and industry can cause ethical dilemmas because:

A) there may be pressure to purchase or advertise particular products.
B) schools should be self-sufficient.
C) parents are not supportive of industry involvement in schools.
D) students' rights to privacy may be compromised.

Question 14

Your school has received an offer from the local sporting goods shop to provide the school with a range of sporting goods in return for being able to fly banners on sports day and distribute advertising material to parents who attend. As a member of the sports day planning committee, you have been asked to prepare an overview of the considerations that should inform the decision as to whether or not to accept this offer.

Question 15

The fourth equity principle identified by the NSW Department of Education and Training in 2008 states: 'The diversity of the population is recognised and valued by …'

A) clear pathways to employment and life-long learning.
B) inclusive approaches to development, conduct and evaluation of programs.
C) commitment to equity principles and practices.
D) allocation of public resources to narrowing gaps in education that reflect social inequalities.

Question 16

Lickona's (1988) list of ways that teachers can promote higher levels of student morality and character did not include:

A) serving as a respectful and caring role model.
B) developing a moral code for classroom behaviour.
C) creating a family or community atmosphere.
D) encouraging students to hold high academic and behavioural standards.

Question 17

Is the following statement True or False? 'Freakley and Burgh's (2002) list of values teachers are likely to hold includes values related to fairness, rights, privileges and duties and obligations.'

Question 18

One possible explanation for the international test results of Australian students showing a stronger relationship between social background and achievement is that Australia has:

A) several distinct program types rather than one comprehensive system of education.
B) a higher percentage of students from low socio-economic backgrounds.
C) less experienced teachers.
D) less focus on literacy and numeracy in the early years.

Question 19

Researchers have found that cyber-bullying is a form of covert bullying which:

A) is more damaging than overt bullying.
B) is less damaging than overt bullying.
C) causes an equivalent amount of damage as overt bullying.
D) does not cause damage.

Question 20

Teachers have the right to:

A) search students for prohibited items.
B) search school property such as lockers and desks.
C) confiscate students' property.
D) destroy confiscated property.

Question 21

The majority of child sexual abuse occurs between the ages of:

A) 4 and 8 years.
B) 6 and 10 years.
C) 8 and 12 years.
D) 10 and 14 years.

Question 22

Is the following statement True or False? 'Your duty of care as a teacher will include safety of the school premises, security of the school and administering medicines and first aid.'

Question 23

What are the four key components in the definition of teacher negligence?

Question 24

If in your teaching role you make verbal statements that 'expose another person to hatred, shame, disgrace or ridicule', you are engaging in:

A) academic freedom.
B) breach of copyright.
C) libel.
D) slander.

Question 25

Why do teachers need to be ethical? As a beginning teacher how would you ensure that you had an ethical relationship with your students, the principal of your school and the system in which you work?