Are American schools socially just institutions? Using the methods of political philosopher John Rawls, this book answers this question by arguing for four principles that express the basic purposes that Americans hold for their schools principles of Personal Liberty, Democracy, Equal Opportunity, and Economic Growth. These principles are then used to analyze current controversies in American education policy and practice about curriculum content, instructional methods, education standards, civic education, control of schools, and school finance. It concludes that in each arena prevailing practice falls to attain Americans' political ideals for their schools and suggests strategies for remedying that failure.
The Nature and Importance of Social Justice in Education * A Political Theory of Social Justice for Education * Personal Liberty and Education: Families, Cultures, and Standards * Democracy and Education: Multicultural and Civic Education * Equal Opportunity and Education: Control of Schools * Economic Growth and Education: The Financing of Education * Socially Just Education in a Representative American Community
