Book excerpt: "This Very Short Introduction explains how the evolution of education has been shaped over the centuries by politics, philosophy, and the social sciences. Considering education today, Gary Thomas looks especially at the arguments about progressive versus formal teaching and how they play out in modern schools. This new edition takes a fresh look at the attempts to address the inequality and lack of inclusivity in education across all types of schools. Looking forward, Thomas discusses how education might develop over the coming century, and how the curriculum must evolve to keep pace with a rapidly changing world"--