Foucault claims that doctors, teachers, and social workers perpetuate disciplinary society by observation and individualization. Does this view have any merit? Why or why not?

The point is to get the student to consider the real-life consequences of Foucault's claims. He's wrong in the sense that people in these professions are dedicated to helping people, and likely are not the strict disciplinarians that Foucault makes them out to be. On the other hand, Foucault has a point in that people in these professions operate in a system that can control people's lives.

Is Foucault right to say that the modern penal system is not as "humane" as we would like to think? Why or why not?

Foucault is right in the sense that there are clearly problems in the penal system. Many people get incarcerated for minor crimes, and the treatment of prisoners is not always humane...