The principle of meritocracy and the function of emancipation in the context of pathology within the sphere of education : selected issues

Abstract

Th e paper aims at investigating selected aspects of pathology in educational institutions (classifi ed by Jan Szczepański into the group of educational and cultural institutions [J. Szczepański, 1965, p.114]; and by Shmuel Eisenstadt, into the group of educational and care institutions [quoted aft er G.Skąpska, M.Ziółkowski, 1998, p. 318]). Pathology is a notion which cannot be interpreted unequivocally. According to a dictionary defi nition, it denotes any deviation from the norm. Taking into onsideration the criterion of meaning, the term is applied to a set of phenomena harmful to an individual as well as a group, which have a specifi c origin, social scope and a negative impact [L. Pytka, 1999, p. 175] (Fragment tekstu).