Ch 9 - Education in the US

In the beginning of the chapter, it is implied that some wealthier Americans opposed the first public schools in the US because

• they cost too much money

• they weaken the social class barriers

• people who did not pay for their education would not value it

Tocqueville finally concluded that public education in the US would

• give Americans not only the desire but also the means to better their position in life

• not provide any practical training in vocational skills

• not work because people would be prevented from rising to a higher class by the aristocracy

Which of these statements is FALSE?

• American high school students have the choice of going to a free public school or a private one where they must pay tuition

• The American education system is based on strong principles of equality of opportunity -- all students should have an equal opportunity to get a good education.

• After twelve years of school, American students receive a bachelor's degree diploma at graduation.

Which of these statements is TRUE?

• Most of the money to pay for American public schools comes from state and local taxes.

• Religious schools that serve middle-class students receive money from the national government, but elite private schools do not.

• The national Department of Education determines the curriculum for all schools and sets the standards of high school graduation and college admission.

From 1900 to 2000, the percentage of young Americans who take a least some college courses

• increased enormously, from less than 10% to over 50%

• increased slightly, from about 10% to about 20%

• stayed about the same, at around 20%

What the majority of Americans probably value most about higher education is

• its cultural value

• its monetary value

• its moral value

Which of the following would not be considered an extracurricular activity?

• a school baseball team

• the student government of a school

• a classroom research project

In 1896, the US Supreme Court said that racially segregated schools and other public facilities

• violated the principle of equality

• violated the US Constitution

• did not violate the principle of equality or the US Constutution

Which of these statements about American schools is FALSE?

• Public schools that are mainly black or mainly white today usually are the result of the racial makeup of the neighborhood

• African Americans are the fastest growing minority in schools today

• In some school districts, 100 different languages are spoken

Which of these statements about multiculturalism in the US is TRUE?

• In the US, all immigrant children attend bilingual programs until they learn English very well and are allowed to attend regular classes with native speakers

• In the US, there are almost no uniform standards for any schools.

• Multicultural education discusses history from the perspective of all the ethnic groups involved, not just the Anglo Americans