The school curriculum and liberal education

In the development of public systems of education, the intention was that everyone should have access to schooling; however, the democratic idea did not extend to giving everyone the opportunity of becoming familiar with the main forms of understanding that make up the critical, reflective level of culture and illuminate the key social institutions. Schooling in this sense - which belongs to the tradition of liberal education - was thought to be the preserve of a minority. (Of course, even the elite schools often fell far short of the ideals of liberal education). Despite all the changes that have occurred, the dualism (or the idea of different curricula for different groups) still persists in various forms. In the past, liberal education presupposed both social responsibility and leisure. With the developments in technology, most members of a democracy now possess adequate leisure as well as all having an equal responsibility as citizens. [Author abstract]