ABSTRACT

In this brief, interpretive history of American schooling, John Rury focuses on the evolving relationship between education and social change. The book considers the impact of social forces, such as industrialization, urbanization, immigration, 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 providing avenues of social mobility and success for certain social groups and not for others. Detailed accounts of the experiences of women and minority groups in American history explain how their lives have been affected by education. Key features include:

*Content Coverage--Provides a concise, comprehensive, and interpretive coverage of American educational history that ranges from colonial beginnings to the present. Key social science concepts, such as social and cultural capital are used throughout to explain historical developments related to social change and education.

*Engaging Storyline--Provides a clear, interpretive storyline in which descriptive text is repeatedly punctuated by in-depth explorations of specific historical issues or events that increase the level of student engagement and response.

*Teaching Flexibility--Its content, modest length, and price make it appropriate for students in any of the following courses: Social and Historical Foundations of Education, Introduction to Education, History of Education, or Educational Policy Studies.

Contents: Introduction: History, Social Change, and Education. Colonial Origins: Education in a Preindustrial Society. The Nineteenth Century: Beginnings of a Modern School System. Ethnicity, Gender, and Race: Contours of Social Change in the Nineteenth Century. The Progressive Era: Reform, Growth, and Differentiation. Education in Post-War America: The Human Capital Revolution.