Education and Social Change

This concise, interpretive history of American schooling focuses on the evolving relationship between education and social change.   

Like its predecessors, this fully updated new edition investigates the impact of social forces such as industrialization, urbanization, immigration, globalization, and cultural conflict on the development of schools and other educational institutions. It also examines the various ways that schools have contributed to social change, particularly in enhancing the status and accomplishments of certain social groups and not others. Detailed accounts of the experiences of women and minority groups in American history consider how their lives have been affected by education at key points in the past.

Updates to the seventh edition include: Enhanced coverage for understanding the experiences of Native Americans, students in poverty settings, and the LGBTQ+ community in the midst of social change. New topics include settler colonialism, indigeneity, culturally diverse education, gay and transgender educational policies, charter schools, voucher programs, and the rise of testing in schools. It has been edited throughout to update information and sources regarding the history of American education and related processes of social transformation in the nation?s past.   

This bestselling introductory text is essential reading for Educational Foundations, History of Education, and Schools and Society, and similar courses for pre-service teachers, educational leaders, and others.  

New online material includes discussion questions and links to further reading and resources, available at www.routledge.com/9781032745947   

Praise for the Previous Edition: 

"Its adept treatment of historical developments with interpretive themes is accomplished in a remarkably concise and accessible manner."  

Sevan Terzian, University of Florida, USA 

"I really like the book?s central question: do schools change society or does society change schools? While students quickly realize the answer is ?both,? this interplay throughout the text works nicely for me. It also supports well another central question that I usually emphasize: the ?education for what purpose? question."  

Monica McKinney, Meredith College, USA 

"I would recommend this book to all educators, administrators, and researchers interested in the historical influences on education and social change. This book is especially important for state, local, and federal policy makers to reexamine the damages of history on marginalized groups." 

Education Review