Davis and Moore on education ( topic 1 )

Question 1

What did Davis and Moore believe about education ?

Answer 1

That education facilitates meritocracy.

Question 2

What did they argue ?

Answer 2

They argued that for society to function there had to be a system of unequal rewards. This is the ability to access high rewards that encourages individuals to put in more effort. ( social stratification is essential for society to function correctly )

Question 3

Why does meritocracy work according to Davis and Moore ?

Answer 3

Because of competition.

Question 4

What do Marxists criticise about these views ?

Answer 4

That social stratification causes the education system to fail to grade people by ability or effort and instead depends on wealth which education reinforces.

Question 5

What is the reproduction of inequality ?

Answer 5

The children of those with higher paid jobs get to leave the education system with better qualifications due to a better access to resources and go into a highly paid job.

Question 6

What does the myth of meritocracy cause ?

Answer 6

It allows for rich people to get away with using their privileges and convinces everybody else that the process is fair.

Question 7

What does the myth of meritocracy show ?

Answer 7

That highly paid jobs are not always achieved through hard work as some people in high social class have good connections to get strong jobs.