An examination of the competing ideological traditions that have fought for dominance in American public schools since the 19th century. It considers what the social consequences are when certification and degrees become more important than the acquisition of knowledge.[...]
What do we really want from schools? Only everything, in all its contradictions. Most of all, we want access and opportunity for all children - but all possible advantages for our own. So argues historian David Labaree in this provocative look at the way "this archetype of dysfunction works so well [...]