Equal Opportunity in Education: A Sociological-Historical Perspective

Reviews the book, Equal Opportunity in Education edited by Harold Silver (1974). This book offers an interesting and informative extension of knowledge to American educators and behavioral scientists concerned with the issue of social class and public education. It places a sociological perspective upon the historical evolution of various approaches to providing meaningful education for varied populations. It is a debate of the issue of "meritocracy" versus "egalitarianism" in education. The comprehensive public school concept familiar in American education is weighed against the selective differentiated tracking of the old traditional British and European systems. Neither emerges simply as the "good guy," but the volume does afford useful elucidation of important pros and cons. The author provides an overview and integration that bind the selections together, as well as an insightful sociological and historical perspective upon them (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)