Question

It is well known that the elected school board of a large city engages in unethical and illegal activities involving the awarding of major contracts. This behavior has existed for decades, even as the membership in the school board has changed over time. This behavior reflects?

1) the core values of the school board as an organization.
2) a functional, although unethical, culture of the school board.
3) the lack of an organizational mission for the school board.
4) a school board lacking in core competencies.

Answer 1

The unethical activity by the school board reflects a functional, yet unethical, culture in the organization, constituting part of the school's hidden curriculum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The unethical and illegal activities involving the awarding of major contracts by the elected school board of a large city, which has persisted over time despite changes in membership, most likely reflects a functional, although unethical, culture of the school board. This organizational culture has become entrenched, making such behavior a stable, albeit morally compromised, aspect of how the board operates. In essence, the board's practices have become a part of the hidden curriculum, teaching by example a disregard for ethical norms and legal standards that contradict the manifest functions of schools to promote conformity to law and respect for authority.