Mid-Term Examination, Sociology of Education, Fall 2006, Updated Copy (October 12)  (Option added for Non-essay Questions)

 

In responding to the questions below, I ask that you not collaborate with any other student.  If you find that you need assistance, let me be the resource to which you turn.    Please turn in a well-edited hard copy; of course keep a digital backup. Make sure I can see where one question ends and another begins. Please integrate (and cite) into the first three answers specific course material.  Please take the questions in the order in which they appear. 

 

The first three questions on the exam will be evaluated on how well they  are organized, written and edited, how directly they address the questions, how thoroughly they utilize course material, and their development.   For the four short-answer questions, development is not really an issue.  With these, get to the point and move on. 

 

The completed test is due at the beginning of class October 24, 2006.  This is a hard deadline.  A late charge will be assessed.  Anticipate a hard-drive failure and back-up your work.  If you have an emergency, we can work around this. Do not panic. 

 

Essay Format Question: (100 points)  I am looking for typewritten response in the manner required for your reflection assignment.

 

      1.   Consider the following facts: The locality of school division A has a composite index of .25; and school division B’s locality has an index of .77. Just from these numbers, what can you say for sure about educational funding in each division?  Then, what could you speculate might be occurring in each division’s educational program given what you know about funding and funding sources?  Answer this speculative part from the point of view of a teacher. Any additional information relative to your experiences may be helpful. You want your response to demonstrate that you have a comprehensive grasp of funding and its ramifications for other, non-economic educational issues.

 

Non-Essay Format Questions (Pick two of the three.): (50 points each)  You do not have to use a heading structure with these. 

 

  1. What is role strain and role conflict?  How can these be applied to the teaching profession?   

 

  1. Provide an overview of the range of corrective actions for AYP.  Then suggest some possible latent functions that you think may be associated with any two that really stand out for you.

 

  1. In the article by Pace (2003), the issue of professional versus bureaucratic authority was discussed.  What were the analytical distinctions regarding authority made by this article?  What was the issue with Cliff’s Notes?   In regard to a teacher using bureaucratic authority and power (even “softened” some) as a base of authority, what is the problem with relying on it to motivate students to see the value of schoolwork? 

 

Short Answer Questions (Answer all of these.): (10 points each) A few sentences or paragraph for these questions, please:

 

  1. What is meant by the term ‘principled conflict’ and what would be an example of something that could cause it?
  2. When we consider the typical public school in light of Weber’s concept of bureaucracy, what issues come to the forefront?
  3. The uneasiness teachers feel toward parents (and vice versa) is best understood by using which sociological tool(s)? Give a brief explanation of your choice.
  4. In regard to political relationships between school boards and boards of supervisors in Virginia, which one is most likely to have the most power and why?

 

   

Optional Bonus Question:   J (up to 3 points):

 

 

  1.  A few years ago, a newspaper in Virginia reported a very interesting finding:  Students who bring their lunches to school do better on standardized tests than students who regularly eat in the cafeteria.  There was just this finding reported, not any attempt to explain.  It begs for explanation.  What do you think is going on? (You may need a few sentences for this one.)

 

 

Thanks you for your patience and support.