This text relates selected American educational issues to the broader themes of individual and social justice. Thus issues such as equal opportunity, student classification, curriculum and democracy in schooling are all seen in the light of a broader concern with justice.

Part 1 Schooling and justice: equality, opportunity, and justice
readings on equal educational opportunity. Part 2 Education and human diversity: human diversity and the difference it makes
readings on human diversity. Part 3 Schooling and ideology: forming a national character
readings on ideology - historical perspectives
readings on ideology - the classroom and the curriculum. Part 4 Schooling and politics: bureaucracy and control in education
readings on the politics of schooling - the centralization of control
readings on the politics of schools - choice and change. Part 5 Schooling and social change: reforming the school - past to present
readings on educational reform - the official agenda
readings on educational reform - restructuring the school.