School Culture Quiz

Definitions of Culture

• Edward Tyler defines culture as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society".
• Clifford Geertz defines culture as "a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life".
• According to Bower (1966), culture refers to "the way of life of a people, including their values, assumptions, and tangible objects such as artifacts and architecture".
• Wincek (1995) describes culture as "the shared patterns of behavior, attitudes, and values that define a particular group of people".
• School culture, according to Schein (1985), is characterized by "a pattern of shared basic assumptions learned by a group as it solves its problems of external adaptation and internal integration".
• Deal and Peterson (2002) identify the complex elements of culture as "rituals, traditions, and myths that shape the norms and values of an organization".
• Wincek (1995) defines culture as "the human-made part of our environment, including both physical and nonphysical elements such as values, beliefs, and customs".
• According to Clifford Geertz, culture consists of "a system of symbols and meanings that are shared by a group of people".

Test your knowledge of school culture and its significance in the educational setting with this quiz. Explore the key elements of culture in schools and their impact on students and staff.