ABSTRACT
One of the main functions of schools is to transmit the culture of the particular society in which the school is located. By 'culture' it does not just mean 'high culture', but rather the totality of what is learned by individuals as members of a society. This means that culture, in its broadest sense, covers manners, language and values as well as knowledge about history, maths and the arts. This chapter expresses that decisions have to be made about what counts as 'valuable' knowledge, since it is clearly not possible for the school to teach the full stock of accumulated knowledge to students. These decisions, which are made by textbook writers, curriculum developers and individual teachers, are not value free. What is taught in the schools provides important insights into how those who influence the content of the school curriculum view our society, and where they feel it is going.
