Does Education Have a Future?: The Political Economy of Social and Educational Inequalities in European Society(10 Plan Europe 2000, Project 1: Educating Man for the 21st Century)

This volume has been prepared in the framework of Project 1: "Educating Man for the 21st Century" of Plan Europe 2000, sponsored by the European Cultural Foundation. While most of the studies launched under this Project deal with specific aspects or levels of education the present volume attempts to provide a more global view of educational futures and their relationships to alternative futures of the overall socio-economic system. It should not be considered as a general integration or synthesis- of the different studies of the Education Project of the European Cultural Foundation - although it draws on them as well as other recently published documents. Rather, it should be regarded as one of several possible approaches, analytical tools, and incentives to the study and open discussion of educational problems seen in a long-term perspective. The volume is the result of a collective effort of a multinational team of researchers. A colloquium of some sixty participants, meeting at the Uni- versity of York in October 1972, provided critiques and comments to the first version of the report. But only the authors themselves claim responsibil- ity for the methodology of the study, and the opinions and conclusions expressed therein. These do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsors of the volume, the European Cultural Foundation and the Scientific Committee of its Education Project. - Such a synthesis will appear as the concluding report of the Project.

Table of Contents:
1. Approaches to the Practice and Planning of Social and Educational Change.- A Critical Analysis of Approaches to Futures-Thinking.- Towards a Constructive Approach to the Future.- Conclusion.- 2. Trends and Problems in Social and Educational Equality.- Problems in the International system.- Class and Equality in European Society.- Problems of Educational and Social Equality.- 3. Alternative Social Futures and Social Dynamics.- A Framework for Social Futures.- Hierarchical Alternatives.- Egalitarian Alternatives.- Conclusion.- 4. Towards Alternative Futures for Education —Educational Structures and Processes.- 1 : Education in the Hierarchical Alternatives.- 2: Education in the Egalitarian Alternatives.- 5. Social Power and Strategies for Changing Education.- The Search for Strategies.- The Social and Political Content of Strategies for Change.- Towards More Effective Innovation in Education.- Biographical Notes.