Answer to Question 1
Research by Rutter and others indicates that schools do differ in students' level of academic achievement, their attitude toward learning, absenteeism, drop-out rates, and the amount of behavior problems. Four practices have been linked with effective schooling: (a) a strong academic emphasis, including regularly assigned and checked homework, high expectations, and a high proportion of time devoted to active teaching, (b) a classroom management style that maximizes the amount of time on a task and creates a comfortable, orderly atmosphere where students are encouraged to work to the best of their abilities and are praised when they meet those goals, (c) firm enforcement of rules by classroom teachers using nonphysical sanctions, and (d) strong, energetic leadership that encourages faculty team planning and implementation of curricular goals. In sum, the school is a comfortable, but businesslike, atmosphere where academic progress is expected and rewarded. Contrary to what one might expect, the most effective schools do not necessarily have the most funding or the smallest class sizes. Factors such as monetary support, class size, classroom structure, and composition of the student body are not reliable predictors of successful schools.
Answer to Question 2
C
