Are switches connected in series or parallel with the devices they control?

In some unusual applications of unusual components, I can think of unusual electric circuits where a switch may be connected in parallel with a device in order to control it.

But I'm sure this is not what's intended in a question on the high-school level.

Until you get in a situation with tricky applications in a tricky circuit, your switches will always be connect in series with the devices they control.

This arrangement is used to control the lamps in buildings. This type of circuit is often called a parallel circuit but you can see that it is not really so simple - the switches are in series with the lamps, and it is these switch and lamp pairs that are connected in parallel.