Exam 12: Education and Religion

Some argue that U.S. education is not promoting the high-level skills in reading, writing, science, and mathematics that are needed in the workplace and the global economy. From the functionalist perspective this is considered a __________.

spiritual forces, such as sacred principles of thought and conduct, rather than a god or gods.

Schools help to identify the most qualified people to fill available positions in society by channeling students into programs based on their ability and academic achievement. This is the manifest function of education termed __________.

__________ are people of whatever religious faith who are most fearful about secularization and who believe that sacred traditions must be revitalized in the face of modernity.

Luis has a bad day and scores poorly on an exam. The teacher views him as lazy and unintelligent and pays only negative attention to him, if any. Luis loses interest in school and stops reading and doing homework. He ultimately fails. Symbolic interactionists would term this situation __________.

According to conflict theorists, credentialism, the hidden curriculum, and a belief in __________ ensure that the best education and job opportunities will go to members of the middle- and upper classes.

In very simple preindustrial societies, religions often take the form of __________, which is the belief in impersonal supernatural forces affect people's lives either positively or negatively.

Explain the manifest and latent functions of education.

__________ is the process whereby a person is identified by others as possessing a specific characteristic or exhibiting a certain pattern of behavior (such as being deviant).

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.

Symbolic interactionists are most likely to view grades, written comments on assignments, and evaluations of behavior in classes as contributing to __________.

According to sociologist __________, students from diverse class backgrounds come to school with different amounts of cultural capital, which refers to social assets that include values, beliefs, attitudes, and competencies in language and culture.

__________, one of the first sociologists to emphasize that religion is essential to the maintenance of society, suggested that religion is a cultural universal found in all societies because it meets basic human needs and serves important societal functions.

Education serves five major manifest functions in society, including __________.

A large bureaucratic organization that seeks accommodation with the larger society and also attempts to influence it is termed __________.

Standardized tests are an effective means of testing student intelligence and ability.

Based on the results of an IQ test, a teacher believes that some students of color are less capable of learning and treats them accordingly. This may contribute to __________.

Studies reveal that nearly __________ of U.S. students admit to bullying others with some frequency.

Schools play an active part in the process of assimilation, whereby recent immigrants learn dominant values, attitudes, and behavior of society. This is an aspect of the manifest function of education referred to as __________.

Religion may be a source of social solidarity as well as social conflict.