Exam 13: Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective

Because schools bring together people of similar ages, social class, and race/ethnicity, young people often meet future marriage partners. This latent function of education results in ______________.

Efforts to eliminate racial/ethnic segregation in public education have failed in many districts throughout the United States.

In regard to unequal funding as a source of unequal education, the text notes that_____________ .

Tracking or ability grouping is based on the assumption that it is easier to teach a group whose members have similar abilities.______________ theorists are critics of the practice of tracking, arguing that it negatively affects learning and achievement for many students.

In addition to teaching subject content and skills, school routines and regulations train students to respect cultural values; routines and regulations also shape attitudes and values such as conformity and obedience to authority. Sociologists term this the ______________.

Sociologists all share the same perspective on the role of education in society.

According to the text,______________ societies were among the first to practice monotheism, the belief in a single, supreme being or god who is responsible for significant events such as the creation of the world.

Not all analysts or functionalists agree on what the functions of education should be in contemporary societies.

Most social scientists believe that tracking is an effective means of giving students of color and those from low- income families an opportunity to excel academically and thus enable future success.

Religious fundamentalism now only appeals to people who have lower incomes, live in rural areas, and have lower levels of educational attainment.

Sociologists use the term______________ for a system of sacred or supernatural beliefs, symbols, and rituals that guides human behavior, gives meaning to life, and unites believers into a community.

Distinguish among the different types of religious organizations.

In any given religion, men and women will hold the same beliefs.

The work of ______________demonstrated that religion could be a catalyst for social change.

Clifford Geertz notes that religion is ______________.

Explain the functionalist perspective on education.

Both religion and education are responsible for teaching knowledge, cultural values, and beliefs.

Discuss the issue of gender bias in the U.S. education system. Include general information about the relative educational attainment levels for males and females and how sociological investigation into gender bias has shifted over time.

______________is a process in which academic qualifications are necessary in order to attain class advantage and higher social status.

______________theorists believe that education is an important part of society because it contributes to social stability and provides people with an opportunity for self-enhancement and upward social mobility.