Davis and Moore on Education

Question 1

Role allocation

Answer 1

• society requires skilled workforce that is fully qualified
• certain roles require certain aptitudes
• education prepares students for these roles based upon their ability

Question 2

How does education achieve this (Role allocation)

Answer 2

• ‘Sifts and sorts’ students based on ability
• promotes ideas of social mobility and meritocracy
  most able pupils end up in higher positions in society
• lower ability end up in low-skilled positions

Question 3

Contemporary applications

Answer 3

• setting and streaming
• university entrance
• subject choice - vocational and academic routes
• wage inequality

Question 4

Criticisms

Answer 4

• Marxists - meritocracy is a myth-making machine
• feminists - gender pay gap - feminine professions paid less
• old school tie network
• privately-educated students more advantaged