Merit and America

Catalog description

What constitutes merit? What should constitute merit? These questions are both philosophical and practical - and are faced by every educator in some form. The notion of meritocracy has long been at the heart of varied discourses about the place of education in American society. Merit is most often understood as inhering in consistent and individual personality traits such as competency, intelligence, and diligence. And yet, every individual is embedded in complex social worlds that are culturally specific and historically contingent. Drawing on a broad array of disciplines and literatures, this seminar-style course challenges students to consider how ideas of merit and its measurement are shaped by American history, culture, and society, and to articulate their own views as they move toward their professional goals.