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1. Teacher testing is an oft-debated practice and a controversial topic. What are the primary reasons for supporting, and the primary reasons for opposing, the use of standardized tests for teachers? ANSWER: Supporters emphasize the need to ensure a high-quality […]

1. Schoolchildren, particularly at the secondary level, experience a number of pressures and problems that may lead to the use of drugs, drinking, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, and possibly suicide. Educators have debated how much responsibility schools should assume in addressing […]

1. The high-school dropout rates, high-school completion rates, and college enrollment for African American and Latino students have been a cause of alarm for many educators. Discuss these rates, and suggest what schools could do to minimize problems in these […]

1. School districts were required to implement many programs to accomplish desegregation over the years. Some are simple; others are complex. Each plan had its relative advantages. Identify several of these desegregation plans, and discuss their characteristics and advantages. ANSWER: […]

1. Schools are a mirror of strengths and weaknesses in society. Why is it important for the goals of education to change as society changes? ANSWER: The curriculum in schools needs to keep up with changes in society because the […]

1. Educators in school districts should recognize the characteristics and relative merits of various curricular designs before selecting the approach most suited for the district. Discuss the content emphasis, instructional emphasis, and relative merits of the subject-centered and the student-centered […]

1. Scholars have analyzed the findings of international studies of achievement to try to determine which, if any, aspects of instruction are associated with national performance levels in math. Identify the major conclusions of these analyses, and discuss the implications […]

1. Many school districts are basing their school improvement efforts on the research on effective schools, but there are concerns about the way in which some of the studies were conducted and about our ability to apply conclusions drawn from […]

1. Many educators believe that increasing teachers’ autonomy in deciding about spheres of work will enhance the status of the teaching profession. A number of the issues and trends discussed in Chapter 2 have implications for teacher empowerment. Choose three […]

1. As societies changed, so did their view of the purposes of schools and the educational needs of citizens. Consequently, the content included in the curriculum changed over time. Discuss and analyze how the curriculum has changed throughout history in […]

1. Froebel believed that future teachers should reflect repeatedly on their own childhood experiences for insights that they can apply to their teaching. What have your childhood experiences taught you about how students learn and how you should teach? Based […]

1. The role of women has changed considerably since colonial times. Similarly, educational opportunities for women have changed. What was the role of women during the colonial period? What were the educational opportunities for women at that time? What have […]

1. Curriculum guides for the subjects taught in elementary and secondary schools were developed by teachers and others who first considered the philosophical basis of the curriculum. Think about the subjects you had in high school, and identify the philosophy […]

1. Depending on the community, members of local school boards may be elected or appointed. Either way, there are some advantages and some disadvantages. Identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of elected members. ANSWER: The primary advantage is that […]

1. Federal aid to education initially was provided through a number of isolated, unrelated programs. More recently, under No Child Left Behind, there has been an effort to develop a broadly conceived national plan for education. What are the reasons […]

1. Most school districts grant tenure to a teacher after a brief probationary period. Teachers have certain employment advantages with tenure, and it is very difficult for a district to dismiss a tenured teacher. What advantages do teachers have with […]