Education (Davis and Moore)

Question 1

What do Davis and Moore argue about the key functions of education?

Answer 1

-education allows to allocate roles for certain individuals based on their skill and merit
-education allows individuals to develop key skills needed in the workplace
-education plays a role in promoting a meritocratic system whereby the most talented are rewarded and allocated into the most complex roles that allow society to function

Question 2

How does education do this?

Answer 2

-role allocating through assessments, students progressing throughout their education life
-promotes ideas of social mobility and meritocracy

Question 3

What are the criticisms of Davis and Moore’s views?

Answer 3

-Marxists argue that meritocracy is a myth, and assumes everyone has equal opportunities
-middle class students are at more of an advantage