Which of the following statements best reflects the beliefs of James Coleman?
A.”The answer to improving the quality of education in America is to adopt a
marketplace-driven idea. Competition will save public schools.”
B.”The key to improving public education in America is to invest in charter schools.”
C.”High schools are obsolete. They are preparing students for the world of 1960.”
D.”When we carefully analyze private schools, we can clearly see that they do a better
job than public schools. Perhaps private schools are the way to fix education.”
Paula is a high school music teacher who is known for her involvement and
commitment to her students and to her school. She is constantly working with other
teachers and administrators so that they can have the best instruction, curriculum, and
staff development possible. She also reaches out through her music program to involve
parents and the community to make sure that these groups are engaged with the school
and feel like they have a stake in what is going on there. Which of the core propositions
of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards do Paula’s actions most
closely reflect?
A.Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
B.Teachers are members of learning communities.
C.Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
D.Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
Bella feels that her students deserve a safe, orderly classroom in which they can learn.
She lets her students know her rules and the consequences for breaking those rules.
When students do misbehave, she enforces her consequences quickly, fairly, and with
minimal disruption to the class. The main focus of her model of classroom management
is:
A.discipline with dignity.
B.developing inner control and discipline.
C.communications.
D.assertive discipline.
Which of the following is true of students receiving special education?
A.Whites are more likely to be classified as special needs students as compared to
African Americans and Hispanics.
B.Few special education students are likely to be Hispanic because special education
services are not available in Spanish.
C.Boys are more likely to receive special educational services as compared to girls.
D.Gifted learners receive far more than their fair share of instructional resources
because they often benefit the most from their status as special education students.
Unlike traditional teacher preparation programs, alternative teaching programs:
A.tend to result in a less diverse teaching force.
B.focus on structured apprenticeship.
C.tend to draw less academically-prepared students into teaching.
D.are found in less than half of the states in America.
Horace Mann became the nation’s leading advocate for the establishment of a _____
school open to all.
A.private
B.charter
C.dame
D.common
The phenomenon represented by the test-tampering scandal in Atlanta, Georgia, is most
closely associated with:
A.Campbell’s law.
B.the Hawthorne effect.
C.testing psychosis.
D.Noyes’s law.
One of the founders of the school reform movement, the economist, who argued that
competition creates better schools and weak local public schools existed because
neighborhood families were a “trapped” clientele was:
A.James Coleman.
B.Milton Friedman.
C.Bill Gates.
D.Tom Watkins.
During elementary school, there is _____.
A.more communication between races
B.more communication between sexes
C.no communication between sexes
D.no communication between races
A teacher’s right to freedom of speech as a citizen, regarding matters of public concern
is protected due to the holding in the:
A.Edwards v. Aguilar case.
B.Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District case.
C.Bethel School District v. Fraser case.
D.Pickering v. Board of Education case.
Andrew is a student in the class Rebecca teaches. While Andrew is not in the lowest
percentile of the class, he isn’t in the highest, either. In fact, Andrew could go either way
in terms of passing or failing. Rebecca will spend:
A.a moderate amount of time on him, but will focus more on the talented students
because that will increase the average scores of the class.
B.the most amount of time on him because he is a “bubble kid.”
C.the least amount of time on him and more on the weakest students in the class in the
hope that she can get more of them to pass.
D.the most amount of time on him because he is a “triage kid.”
Compared to resumes, portfolios:
A.are less valued by many school districts and universities.
B.simply include a career objective and work experience.
C.are simpler to create and save time.
D.offer a more comprehensive reflection of a candidate’s skills.
Which of the following examples of student expression would be protected under the
First Amendment?
A.A student protesting the war in Afghanistan wears a black armband to his classes and
refuses to speak during the course of the day.
B.A high school newspaper runs a feature story about the spread of sexually transmitted
diseases among students in the school. The paper includes the names of the students
interviewed to ensure credibility for the story.
C.A student who is running for student government office puts up campaign posters that
are of doubtful taste. His campaign slogan also contains sexual innuendo.
D.A campus closed-circuit TV station runs satirical election commercials using the
names and pictures of certain teachers and administrators. Many of the students think
the satire is funny, but several of the teachers are upset.
Identify an accurate statement about the Buckley Amendment.
A.Student grades do not become private and part of students’ educational records until
they are recorded in a teacher’s grade book.
B.Announcing student grades in a classroom violates the privacy act, test scores must
only be disclosed to the student.
C.A teacher can share student educational records with the parents of other students.
D.The Family Rights and Privacy Act contradicts the Buckley amendment.
Identify the best example of a teacher praising a student that is more likely to boost
student achievement.
A.”Linzy! I”m happy that at least some of your answers are correct!”
B.”Lea! That answer sounds okay.”
C.”Great job! Keep it up!”
D.”Melanie! Your answer demonstrates a good approach toward critical analysis.”
In a progressivist classroom, you would find teachers _____.
A.talking to rows of seated students who are listening to them attentively
B.focusing their students’ attention on scheduled standardized tests
C.focusing their students’ attention on one discrete discipline at a time
D.walking around the room, asking questions and making suggestions
Procedural due process refers to the:
A.principle that upholdsthe right of non-English-speaking students to select their
language of instruction.
B.established procedures to accommodate the needs of gifted learners in regular
classrooms.
C.right of children with disabilities to be assessed, placed, and taught in special and
separate classrooms.
D.principle that upholds the right of students with disabilities to protest a school’s
decisions about their education.
A textbook covers twentieth-century U.S. history without mentioning the continuing
struggle for civil rights; and pictures throughout the text portray only harmonious
relations between the races. This is an example of a form of bias known as:
A.unreality.
B.fragmentation.
C.imbalance.
D.stereotyping.
Emily’s parents have recently divorced and they will share her custody. Which of the
following statements will be true of Emily?
A.It is most likely that she will never recover from the experience.
B.She will probably go through a process that closely resembles mourning.
C.Her performance at school will probably improve as she will be more independent.
D.Her teachers should respect her need for privacy and keep their distance.
Which of the following comments is most likely to be made by an opponent of
censorship?
A.”I really feel that it is the job of schools to indoctrinate students and teach them
correct values, by regulating the books to which students are exposed.”
B.”I really feel that it would be best if parents and other adults determine what ideas
children should be exposed to.”
C.”I really feel that, while schools should protect children from blatantly inappropriate
ideas, inappropriate’ is a pretty subjective term.”
D.”I really feel that school libraries really should reflect the ideas of the community.
After all, it’s the taxpayers in the community who pay for the books.”
The National Education Association(NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers
(AFT) work to improve the salaries and the working conditions of teachers _____.
A.by providing low-cost legal services to all members
B.through collective bargaining
C.by granting tenure to its members
D.through alternative teacher certification programs
Intelligent design:
A.competes with the theory of evolution, and most people believe that ideas that
contradict evolution have no place in a classroom.
B.offers a clear scientific position that is devoid of political or religious beliefs.
C.supports the ideas of creationism, but directly contradicts evolution.
D.credits an unnamed intelligence for aspects of nature unexplained by science.
Which of these is NOT a reason for the furor surrounding the quality of U.S. education?
A.The idea that schools are underfunded and need more federal funding.
B.The idea that schools should tackle a wide array of academic and social challenges.
C.Schools are serving more poor students, special education students, and
non-English-speaking students.
D.Education is reduced to a single test-score, and that score can stigmatize schools,
teachers, and students.
In a(n) _____ classroom students spend considerable time and energy mastering the
three “Rs,” reading, “riting, and “rithmetic.
A.progressivist
B.existentialist
C.perennialist
D.constructivist
According to educator Hilda Taba, learning in school is different than learning in life
because the former:
A.deals with critical socialization skills.
B.stresses on the hidden lessons in life.
C.teaches skills that are needed for work and the professions.
D.is formally organized.
Unlike existentialists, ______ believe that free will is an illusion and that human nature
is shaped by the environment.
A.essentialists
B.progressivists
C.perennialists
D.behaviorists
Which of the following cases best demonstrates the U.S. Supreme Court’s position on
the ‘separation of church and state”?
A.A teacher decides to offer a course on Christianity. She points out that most students
in the school are Christian, but do not get an “adequate” Christian education at home.
Her desire is to supplement that instruction and promote moral citizens. The community
and the parents are all very supportive.
B.A teacher is very upset when a Jewish child begins to say a Hebrew prayer in the
cafeteria before he eats. The student explains that observant Jews are instructed to say
such prayers before eating, and he offers to say the prayer quietly. The teacher points
out that in a public school such religious demonstrations are not acceptable and
instructs him to save his prayers for home.
C.The principal announces that specific Christian, Jewish, or Muslim prayers will not
be conducted over the school public address system each morning, since such prayers
violate the Supreme Court decision on prohibiting specific religious prayer in school.
Instead, a non-sectarian, common prayer will be said each morning so that all students
feel included.
D.A student decides to start a Christian club that will meet on school grounds and is
given permission by the school administration, which also offers space on school
grounds for non-religious clubs and other student groups to meet.
_____ students are the least likely to attend multiracial schools and are the most
isolated group.
A.White
B.Asian
C.Hispanic
D.African American
For teachers involved in gifted education programs, one of the key tasks to accomplish
is:
A.promoting a sense of community that reduces student anxiety and alienation.
B.making sure that items in the curriculum are covered on time.
C.helping the students develop a healthy interest in sports.
D.helping the students develop strong existential intelligence.
Normal schools were important because they:
A.remain, to this day, the primary way teachers are trained.
B.represented the earliest form of professional teacher education.
C.led to a more diverse teaching force.
D.focused solely on pedagogy and teaching methodology.
Why is the use of vouchers for religious schools such a controversial issue? How often
are vouchers used for religious schools (in those states that allow it) and how does this
affect the debate?
Answer:
Answers will vary.
List and briefly explain the principles of special education laid out in federal law,
particularly in Public Law 94-142 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Describe how these five principles would impact teachers who have special needs
students. Be sure to provide specific examples where appropriate.
“A multicultural curriculum doesn’t contribute to the fissures; it’s meant to address the
fissures, to redefine what our common culture is.” Do you agree? Justify your answer.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Devise a school schedule that you think would realistically optimize engaged and
academic learning time. What sort of changes would you have to make and why do you
feel you would need to change what you did?
Answer:
Answers will vary.
In terms of classroom management, as a teacher, what steps would you take to eliminate
gender bias in the classroom? Be sure to provide specific examples of what your
approach would look like.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Discuss the reasons why educators feel there is an upheaval about failing schools and
the need for radical school reform. To what extent do these reasons reflect the actual
performance U.S. students, teachers, and schools? Be sure to support your answers with
specific analysis and examples.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
What are the major arguments for or against teaching the theory of evolution as the sole
explanation for the origin of life and its diversity? How have the differing meanings of
the word “theory” affected this debate?
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Propose a sample classroom question and activity for each level of Bloom’s taxonomy
(identifying the level for each). Describe what characteristics define each question and
activity as belonging to the level to which you assign it.
Discuss traditional and more recent definitions of intelligence. From the perspective of
an educator, why do you think these definitions matter to teachers, parents, and
students? Be sure to give specific examples to support your analysis.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Do you believe that equal educational opportunity is best achieved in separate or
integrated classrooms? Explain your position using analysis and specific examples.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
With all the technological advancements taking place in education, do you feel that the
day would come when teachers would become obsolete? Why or why not? Be sure to
provide specific examples to support your claims.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
What is the basis of knowledge from the perspective of an empiricist and a rationalist?
Describe how a rationalist and an empiricist would teach others.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Imagine that you are a teacher. You have been informed that in the coming year you
will be teaching in an “inclusion classroom.” As an educator, what benefits do you see
from inclusion? What concerns would you have about teaching in an inclusion class?
How would you prepare yourself for teaching in an inclusion environment? Be sure to
provide specific examples to support your arguments.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
One of the criticisms about the benefits of extracurricular activities is that they are
limited to a relatively few privileged students. Meanwhile, other students, particularly
those from lower socioeconomic families, are excluded. What steps can schools take to
get students from diverse backgrounds to participate in extracurricular activities so that
all students may have the chance to benefit? Be sure to provide specific examples to
support your analysis.
A student arrives in your class with extensive bruises for the second time this year. She
explains that she fell down a flight of steps. What would you do, and why?
Now that you have studied different educational philosophies, which philosophies do
you find most relevant for educating students in today’s society? Are there any
philosophies that you find to be obsolete or no longer applicable? Be sure to give
specific examples to support your analysis.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Detail some of the social conditions or problems that may affect student performance in
school (a few examples: poverty, homelessness, substance abuse). In your opinion,
which of these conditions or problems poses the biggest threat to your ability, as a
teacher, to provide educational opportunity for all? What can you as a teacher do in
response?
Following the American Revolution, a truly American education began to take shape.
Describe the characteristics of “American” education, and what makes it specifically
American. Be sure to provide examples in your discussion.
Answer:
Answers will vary.
Discuss the recent waves of immigration in this country. What significance does such
immigration have for the nation’s schools? What are the implications of these waves of
immigration on teachers and students?
Briefly discuss the influence of cognitive, affective, and physiological factors on an
individual’s learning style. How can teachers use their knowledge of these factors to
improve their instruction? Be sure to give specific examples to support your arguments.