A sociologist studying education in middle schools observes three schools over the course of the academic year. She observes subtle differences in how teachers engage girls and boys, such that teachers tend to step in to help girls solve problems more quickly than they do with boys. She notes that this gives girls the message that they are less able to complete tasks on their own relative to boys. This would be an example of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observation of the sociologist regarding the subtle differences in how teachers engage girls and boys in middle schools is an example of the hidden curriculum. The hidden curriculum refers to the messages that are conveyed indirectly through patterns of behavior and attitudes that are ingrained in the structure of schools and classrooms. In this case, the teachers' behavior towards girls and boys is indirectly sending the message that girls are less competent in completing tasks on their own compared to boys.

A Sociologist Studying Education in Middle Schools Observes Three Schools