Question 1

A particular school district hires a staff member who only works with students who have specific reading difficulties.This illustrates which characteristic of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Division of labor. This staff member's role is specifically defined and focused on addressing a particular need within the school district.

Question 2

Critics of homeschooling suggest that homeschooled children are

Accepted Answer

While there may be some concerns about homeschooling, such as variability in the quality of education provided, research has shown that homeschooled children on average perform just as well academically as their peers in traditional schools. However, there is evidence that homeschooled children may have less opportunity for socialization and community involvement, which could impact their social and emotional development. While homeschooling can provide individualized attention and support for children with attention deficit disorder, this may not be suitable for all families, and it is important to ensure that children receive appropriate support and accommodations for their needs.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true regarding families who homeschool their children?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

The average salary of teachers in the United States places them

Accepted Answer

While teacher salaries vary by location and years of experience, the national average salary for teachers in the United States is around $60,000. This falls near the average of all wage earners in the nation, which is around $56,000. Therefore, choice C is the best answer.

Question 5

Which of the college subcultures identifies with the intellectual concerns of the faculty and values knowledge for its own sake?

Accepted Answer

The academic subculture values knowledge for its own sake and identifies with the intellectual concerns of the faculty.

Question 6

Which sociologist's analysis of bureaucracies has been applied to schools in the United States because of the growing number of students enrolled in schools and the greater degree of specialization required within a technologically complex society?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's analysis of bureaucracies has been widely applied in the context of schools in the United States due to their increasing size and complexity. Weber's theory emphasizes the importance of rules, hierarchy, specialization, and impersonality in ensuring the efficient functioning of organizations. In schools, this means that there is a greater need for formal procedures, standardization of curriculum, specialized roles for teachers and administrators, and a focus on rational efficiency in the use of resources. These characteristics are reflected in many aspects of modern schooling, from the use of standardized testing to the division of labor among teachers and administrators.

Question 7

What percentage of new teachers quit within the first three years due to burnout?

Accepted Answer

According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, 25-33 percent of new teachers quit within the first three years due to burnout.

Question 8

About how many children are homeschooled in the United States?

Accepted Answer

According to the National Home Education Research Institute, the estimated number of homeschooled students in the United States in 2021 is 1.5 million.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of Weber's basic characteristics of bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Weber's basic characteristics of bureaucracy include hierarchy of authority, written regulations, and impersonality, but not sharing of labor roles.

Question 10

Which perspective generally takes a positive view of the bureaucratization of education?

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective generally takes a positive view of the bureaucratization of education as it views it as a necessary means of ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the education system. The functionalist perspective assumes that various parts of society work together to keep the overall system functioning smoothly and that the bureaucracy plays an important role in achieving this goal.

Question 11

Researchers have identified distinctive student subcultures on college campuses.The students who focus on having fun and socializing are referred to as the ________ subculture.

Accepted Answer

The collegiate subculture is characterized by students who prioritize socializing and having fun over academic pursuits. Fraternity culture is a subset of the collegiate subculture. The academic subculture, on the other hand, is characterized by students who prioritize studying and academic achievement, while the nonconformist subculture comprises students who reject mainstream values and behaviors.

Question 12

You enroll in a freshman Introduction to Sociology course at your college,and the classes are held in a large auditorium with stadium seating that holds over a hundred students with a single instructor behind a lectern.This illustrates which characteristic of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You enroll in a freshman Introduction to...

Question 13

In a particular school system,a teacher's aide must report to her teacher,and the teacher must report to his assistant principal,who then must report to her principal,who then must report to the superintendent,who ultimately is responsible to the board of education.This illustrates which characteristic of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The hierarchy of authority is illustrated in this scenario, as there is a clear chain of command from the teacher's aide to the superintendent, with each level reporting to the one above them.

Question 14

In how many states is it legal to homeschool your child?

Accepted Answer

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states in the United States. However, each state has its own regulations and requirements for homeschooling.

Question 15

Which perspective views the bureaucratization of education as simply a reflection of the values of powerful groups in society?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective views the bureaucratization of education as a result of conflict between social groups who compete for resources and power. Powerful groups in society, such as the government and corporate elites, impose their values onto the education system to maintain their own power and privilege.

Question 16

In many respects,today's schools,when viewed as an example of a formal organization,are similar to factories,hospitals,and business firms.

Accepted Answer

Schools are often structured hierarchically, with clear divisions of labor and a focus on efficiency and productivity. This is similar to other formal organizations like factories, hospitals, and businesses.

Question 17

How many gay-straight alliances (GSAs)were in place in schools nationwide in 2005?

Accepted Answer

According to GLSEN's National School Climate survey in 2005, there were nearly 3,000 GSAs in schools nationwide.

Question 18

A particular teacher spends eighty-percent of her time filling out proper forms required by the school district and the rest of her time actually teaching.This illustrates which characteristic of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A particular teacher spends eighty-percent of her...

Question 19

Your professor receives a promotion when she publishes a journal article within her body of expertise,instead of the promotion going to the department chair's brother-in-law who used to be a cashier but could really use the money.This illustrates which characteristic of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The promotion going to the professor who published a journal article within her area of expertise demonstrates the characteristic of employment based on technical qualifications, where promotions and job opportunities are granted based on an individual's skills and expertise, rather than favoritism or nepotism.

Question 20

Which of the following is considered a major problem regarding homeschooling?

Accepted Answer

Quality control is considered a major problem in homeschooling as there is no standardized system to monitor and evaluate the quality of education being provided to homeschooled children. This can result in variations in the quality of education received by different children and can make it difficult to ensure that they are receiving a comparable education to that of their peers in traditional schools. The other options listed - the number of teachers, the quality of time spent with parents, and the rate of learning - are not necessarily considered major problems with homeschooling.

Quiz 44: Schools As Formal Organizations