Helen Proctor

This text gives students a depth of understanding about how education influences and shapes society and conversely how society shapes education policy. It has never been more important for students of education to be able to understand the connections between the local and the global in explaining contemporary educational change. This text explains the connection between how the Australian education system has been shaped over time, and how this has influenced the current institutions and policies that comprise the state of education. This comprehensive and theoretical text on the sociology of education helps students engage with the theory of educational sociology and learn how to critically reflect on it.

At a time when schooling is more important than ever for families, and where there is great public concern about educational standards and outcomes, Craig Campbell and Helen Proctor show what is new and what is an echo of older agendas. They offer a comprehensive history of Australian schooling from colonial days to the present, highlighting the ways in which schooling has helped shape society. They identify distinctive features of the Australian education system: the strength of the non-government sector, the experiences of Indigenous children, and the relationship with global trends. From the bush to the burgeoning cities, they consider the impact of schools on children and young people over the decades. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone involved with Australian schools.