Ballantine
and Spade,
Schools
and
Society
5th
Edition
Instructor
Resource
1. How would you use functional, conflict, and symbolic interaction
theory to explain the fact that African American students do not, on
average, achieve at the same level as Caucasian students in American
schools?
2. In what ways might cultural capital influence academic achievement?
3. According to Parsons, what is the general structure of the
elementary school classroom? What qualifications does he make about his
generalizations?
4. Define and give an example for each of Weber’s three status groups,
explaining what makes them a status group.
5. What is the self–fulfilling prophecy? Explain this concept using
either the conflict or functionalist theories.
6. What is theory and how is it used in studying education?
7. Why is the study of sociology of education important? Who could find
it valuable and why?
8. What are some of the important questions asked by sociologists about
education? Why are they important and what value do their answers hold?
9. ___________ theorists focus on the interpersonal dynamics of the
situation and assume that individuals socially construct their lives
based on the environments in which they find themselves.
10. _____________ refers to cultural practices, including language
patterns and experiences.
11. Durkheim is traditionally associated with which social theory?
12. In Bernstein’s Code theory, which group is more likely to use
restricted codes?
13. Which theory is most associated with the self–fulfilling prophecy?
14. According to Durkheim, the role of education is to teach the child
morality is part of what aspect of the classroom?
15. An example of a latent function of education, according to
functionalist theory is:
16. The study of sociology of education is primarily concerned with:
17. Social capital differs from cultural capital because it involves
18. Parsons describes the following as key to the formal organization
of elementary school classrooms
19. According to Collins, status groups are “associational groups
sharing common cultures” including similar
20. Collins’ argument about schools as providing status culture comes
from
22. According to Rist’s description of labeling theory, secondary
deviation occurs when
23. Someone who is trying to explain why Johnny can’t read by
describing Johnny’s family’s social class situation is likely using
24. Conflict theorists challenge the postmodern assumptions that
schools are ideologically and politically neutral, and operate based on
meritocracy.
25. Feminist theories are often considered a type of functional theory.
26. The primary goal of social theory is to explain how social
processes work.
27. Durkheim considers school discipline to be the morality of the
classroom.
28. An example of a symbol in symbolic interaction theory could be a
word, such as ‘good.’
29. The term “status group” as used by Collins, was originally defined
by Marx.
30. Labeling theory is often used in Functional Theory.
31. An example of a latent function of education is the training of
individuals for jobs
32. Taking on or accepting a deviant status is an important part of
labeling theory.
33. Feminist theorists are concerned about the number of girls who are
denied educational opportunities.
34. The study of sociology of education is only important to teachers
and other education professionals.