Question 1

Political economy most accurately refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   the political system of a society.
B)   the economic stratification of a society.
C)   a society's institutions and organizations.
D)   All these answers are correct. C

Question 2

An important goal of education is

Accepted Answer

A)   one's "self-creation."
B)   the development of the ability to select from among possible alternatives.
C)   the development of the ability to generate responses to unanticipated situations.
D)   All these answers are correct. D

Question 3

The analytic framework presented in this chapter illustrates how the political economy and ideology of a society impact each other, as well as how both impact the institution of schooling and educational practice. How might changes in the social order, changes in what society understands and values, impact our social institutions and educational practice? What modern day examples of this phenomenon can you point to? How is the dynamic at work in your example?

Accepted Answer

Changes in the social order and shifts in societal values can significantly impact our social institutions and educational practices. For example, in recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in society, leading to changes in educational policies and practices to reflect these values. This includes the adoption of inclusive curriculum, the promotion of diverse perspectives in teaching materials, and efforts to address systemic inequalities within the education system.

One modern-day example of this phenomenon is the increasing recognition of the importance of mental health in education. As society's understanding of mental health has evolved, there has been a push for schools to provide more comprehensive support for students' emotional well-being. This has led to the implementation of mental health programs, the hiring of more school counselors, and a greater emphasis on creating supportive and inclusive school environments.

The dynamic at work in this example is one where changes in societal values and understanding of mental health have influenced the institutional practices within schools. This reflects the interconnected nature of political economy, ideology, and educational institutions, as changes in one aspect of society can lead to ripple effects across various social institutions, including education.

Question 4

Systematic exclusion of some groups of people from the decision-making processes of their culture occurs in societies considered to be

Accepted Answer

A)   democratic.
B)   socialist.
C)   communist.
D)   All these answers are correct.

Question 5

Schooling includes

Accepted Answer

A)   planned instruction and programs of study.
B)   learning achieved through the hidden curriculum.
C)   the state's goals for its citizens.
D)   All these answers are correct.

Question 6

Athenian citizens were confident that slaves and non-citizens would perform manual labor, primarily because

Accepted Answer

A)   their warlike society frequently enslaved vanquished soldiers.
B)   the dominant ideology supported such a hierarchical division of labor and rights.
C)   everyone believed that slaves were supposed to be manual laborers.
D)   All these answers are correct.

Question 7

The dominant ideology of a society

Accepted Answer

A)   is that which is fully endorsed and shared by all social groups and economic classes in a society.
B)   never reflects the views of people from less privileged economic and social classes.
C)   prevents social unrest and revolution.
D)   None of these answers is correct.

Question 8

Explaining why children from certain social and economic groups tend to perform better than others in schools

Accepted Answer

A)   is an important element of teachers' professional expertise.
B)   has been sufficiently accomplished by the popular media.
C)   relies on a variety of historical, sociological, and theoretical arguments.
D)   relies on a variety of historical, sociological, and theoretical arguments, and is an important element of teachers' professional expertise.

Question 9

Failure of teachers to understand the broader social and cultural contexts that surround their schools and classrooms

Accepted Answer

A)   impairs their ability to interpret school and classroom events.
B)   allows them to better concentrate on issues of teaching and learning.
C)   helps them construct meaningful solutions to perennial problems.
D)   None of these answers is correct.

Question 10

Theories help us

Accepted Answer

A)   reach absolute truth.
B)   explain social phenomena.
C)   validate our opinions.
D)   All these answers are correct.

Question 11

Although the Athenian citizen was expected to participate directly (not just through representation) in forming the laws of the city-state, this citizenship excluded women, slaves, and metics. Was the Athenian view of democracy less restricted or more restricted than our contemporary view? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although the Athenian citizen was expected to...

Question 12

Ideology is a concept that includes

Accepted Answer

A)   the structure of a society's economic and governmental institutions.
B)   a distortion of perspective on the part of those people holding to the ideology.
C)   how groups understand the organization of their society and that of other societies.
D)   All these answers are correct.

Question 13

What do you remember from your own elementary or secondary schooling about how the understanding of democracy and feelings of citizenship were fostered, or not, by the school you attended? In your opinion, how do you think students should be prepared, by the educational institutions they attend, to become involved, knowledgeable citizens in a democracy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do you remember from your own...

Exam 1: Introduction: Understanding School and Society