Is The Uk Education System Meritocratic

1548 Words7 Pages
Evaluate the view that the UK education system is meritocratic A system in which advancement is based on effort, individual ability or achievement. (http://www.answers.com/topic/meritocracy) This essay will look at the education system in the UK and consider policy and sociological theories, and see if it is fair for all and is it a level playing field, does effort equal reward. According to Functionalists, meritocracy exists in all of society. Parson (1961) believes in the wider society everyone is treated the same and that your position is determined by your effort and your will to achieve. So society is said to be meritocratic, as everybody can achieve if they want to. Durkheim (2002) Believes that there are fixed rules for all and by transmitting the norms and values across society, it is then fair and meritocratic. Marxists on the other hand believe that meritocracy is a myth and that it hides the truth of the inequality in society. Sociologists argue that the processes in school such as the hidden curriculum helps to keep society unequal. The hidden curriculum has a big influence on pupils, its one thing to teach the child educationally but if the child is treated unjustly (no voice) by the school system then a much more negative message is given to those pupils about the nature of society. According to Functionalists, meritocracy exists in all of society. Parson (1961) believes in the wider society everyone is treated the same and that your position is determined by your effort and your will to achieve. So society is said to be meritocratic, as everybody can achieve if they want to. Durkheim (2002) Believes that there are fixed rules for all and by transmitting the norms and values across society, it is then fair and meritocratic. 1944 began the Butler Act, this introduced the concept that of meritocracy, that children were to be treated
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