Parents, Gender and Education Reform [Paperback]

This book provides a detailed review of the complex relations between families and schools in the context of changing family structures and educational policies.Acknowledgements.

1. Introduction: Parents, Education Reforms and Social Research.

2. The Family Policy Context: The War over the Family and Family Life Changes: 1944-1992.

3. The Education Policy Context: The Idea of a `Meritocracy' from 1944-1976.

4. The Education Policy Context: The Idea of a `Parentocracy' from 1976-1992.

5. Parents and Education: The Social Democractic Reformer-Researcher Partnersip over Equal Opportunities.

6. A Parental `Voice' in Education as Community, or Consumer, Involvement?.

7. Parental or Family Choice of School, or of Education.

8. Parental Involvement for School Effectiveness or Home Improvement?.

9. Mothers in Education, or Mum's the Word?.

10. Debating the Effects of Family Changes and Circumstances on Children's Education.

11. Conclusions: Family Changes, Social Research and Education Reforms.

Bibliography.

Index.

Index of Authors.

'Parents now play a more central part in educational policy through their role as parent governors in schools. But despite this, policy, or indeed assumptions about the ways in which schools should operate, are not based on a realistic view of the lives of mothers and fathers or on the ways in which family life has changed in recent years. Miriam David argues convincingly that we cannot sensibly discuss schooling without taking account of what goes on in the home. This book breakslħ