This book is designed to provide an up-to-date introduction to the philosophy of education. It addresses many of the 'traditional' topics in the field, as well as more contemporary policy issues in education, including: * values, aims and society * culture and the curriculum * learning: knowledge and imagination * pedagogy and prescription * standards, performance and assessment * civic and personal education * autonomy and liberal education * vocationalism, training and economics * markets, politics and education (including private schooling and education at home) * education in multicultural societies. The book is for undergraduate students of education, politics and philosophy. It is written in a clear style and presupposes no previous knowledge of the subject. The authors include detailed lists of suggested further reading.They also pose key questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter, raising issues such as: * should all children be educated by the state? * to what extent should a state education reflect compromises about values between different interest groups within a society? * should education policy be coordinated with economic policy? * has a market a role to play in the organisation and running of education? * how should religious education be organised in a society whose popualtion holds a variety of different religious beliefs?