Book excerpt: This Reader brings together a wide range of material to present an international perspective on topical issues in history of education today. Focusing on the enduring trends in this field, this lively and informative Reader provides broad coverage of the subject and includes crucial topics such as: * higher education * informal agencies of education * schooling, the state and local government * education and social change and inequality * curriculum * teachers and pupils * education, work and the economy * education and national identity. With an emphasis on contemporary pieces that deal with issues relevant to the immediate real world, this book represents the research and views of some of the most respected authors in the field today. Gary McCulloch also includes a specially written introduction which provides a much-needed context to the role of history in the current educational climate. Students of history and history of education will find this Reader an important route map to further reading and understanding.