ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how schools serve as agents of social control and describes a brief history of the development of US education. It discusses the main problem facing school system and summarizes the evolution of the college curriculum. The chapter also explains why the methods of funding education contribute to unequal education. The dual thrust of US education—both the development of individuality and the socialization of students—leads to a tension in our attitude toward education. Education in Pakistan reflects the country’s hierarchically structured society. The most striking expansion of education in the twentieth century was in the colleges and universities. Adolescents are treated like adults, and students see how success in education is connected to earning a living. Japan has what some call “a cult of education.” Students attend for long hours. Even after regular school hours, many attend evening, holiday, and weekend “cramming” schools to get extra education.
