In this brief, interpretive history of American schooling, John Rury focuses on the evolving relationship between education and social change. The book considers the impact of social forces, such as industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and cultural conflict on the development of schools and other educational institutions. It also examines the various ways that schools have contributed to social change, particularly in providing avenues of social mobility and success for certain social groups and not for others. Detailed accounts of the experiences of women and minority groups in American history explain how their lives have been affected by education. Key features include. *Content Coverage--Provides a concise, interpretive history of American education that ranges from colonial beginnings to the present. Key social science concepts, such as social and cultural capital are used throughout to explain historical developments related to social change and education. *Engaging Storyline--A clear, interpretive storyline is repeatedly punctuated by in-depth explorations of specific historical issues or events that increase the level of student engagement and response. *Teaching Flexibility--Its content, modest length, and price make it appropriate for students in any of the following courses: Social and Historical Foundations of Education; Introduction to Education, History of Education, Sociology of Education, or Educational Policy Studies. *Changes--Readability has been increased through careful editing at both the micro (sentence) and macro (organizational) levels. New material on Hispanic education has been added and references updated throughout the text.