Given that certain conditions are met or created, what is the fundamental premise of mastery ...

Answer to #1

It is assumed that any student can master a particular curriculum, given sufficient aptitude, sufficient ability to understand instruction, perseverance, sufficient time, and instruction of good quality. Many believe that these conditions, if not already present, can be created.

Answer to #2

This approach to classroom management is based on the operant conditioning principle of positive reinforcement, but is administered to an entire group of students instead of to individuals. If the performance of the group, rather than each individual, meets or exceeds some standard of behavior set by the teacher, then all students in the group receive whatever the reinforcer is.