Contrasting Models of State and School : a Comparative Historical Study of Parental Choice and State Control

"School Choice and the forming of citizens for responsible freedom are two of the most hotly debated topics in educational policy. International comparison offers perspective on the effects of alternative policies. This book profiles historically and currently two countries which give strong support to parental choice (The Netherlands and Belgium) and two others that maintain a strong State role in controlling education (Germany and Austria). Charles L. Glenn draws upon Dutch, French, and German sources to contrast how the Dutch and Belgians came over the 19th and 20th centuries to entrust education to civil-society institutions with strong parental choice, while Germany and Austria maintained a predominant State role in education. Glenn illuminates the implications of these policies and the dangers that can arise when the State uses popular schooling to shape popular beliefs and loyalties. This is essential reading for policy specialists concerned with balancing school autonomy and government oversight, and with debates over parental choice of schools."-- Provided by publisher Through a historical study of two very different pairs of European countries, Glenn illuminates the debate surrounding educational freedom and a State-controlled model. 'School Choice' is one of the most hotly debated topics in educational policy. International comparison makes it possible to gain perspective on the issue, and this book profiles - historically and in current policies - two countries which give most support to parental choice (The Netherlands and Belgium) and two others which maintain a strong State role in controlling education (Germany and Austria). Charles L. Glenn has read extensively in Dutch, French, and German sources, and brings to his analysis several decades of experience as a government official in education. By comparing the Dutch model of educational freedom with the similar though distinct Belgian model, and contrasting it with the German and Austrian models - showing how these differences took shape in the 19th century and persist today - Glenn illuminates the policies behind these models, and clearly lays out what we can learn from their strengths and weaknesses. This is essential reading for policy specialists concerned with models of school autonomy versus government control, and the debates over parental choice of schools This book profiles two countries which give strong support to parental choice in schooling (The Netherlands and Belgium) and two others that maintain a strong state role in controlling education (Germany and Austria). Author Glenn (educational leadership and development, Boston University) takes a historical perspective, from the 19th century to the end of the 20th century, examining the implications of these policies and the dangers that can arise when the state uses schooling to shape popular beliefs and loyalties. The book begins with brief overview of popular schooling before and after the 16th century Reformation, and a more extensive account of schooling under the influence of Pietism, through the Romantic nationalism of the early 19th century. The author then compares the two sets of countries and describes how totalitarian regimes in Germany used schooling as a means of ideological control. Discussion extends to developments between WWII and the end of the 20th century. The book will be of interest to policy specialists concerned with balancing school autonomy and government oversight, and to those interested in debates over parental choice of schools. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com). 1. Background: The Reformation -- 2. The Enlightenment And Romantic Nationalism -- 3. The State Takes Charge -- 4. Schooling Becomes Controversial -- 5. Consolidation Of State Control, 1880-1930 -- 6. The Civil Society Alternative -- 7. Totalitarian Schooling: National Socialist Education And Indoctrination, Communist And Post-communist Education -- 8. The State And Schooling In Germany And Austria Since World War Ii -- Die Wende: German Reunification -- 9. Civil Society And Schooling In The Low Countries Since World War Ii. By Charles L. Glenn. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-257) And Index.