Product Review

Gerald Gutek's Philosophical, Ideological, and Theoretical Perspectives on Education uses a systems approach to help readers examine the major schools of philosophy of education; consider the relationship of education to major ideologies including Nationalism, Liberalism, Conservatism, and Marxism; and analyze the impact of philosophy and ideology on educational theory and practice through the theories of Essentialism, Perennialism, Social Reconstruction, and Critical Theory. The concepts are made clear through the book's helpful chapter organization, which includes definitions of terms; historical contributors and antecedents; a general discussion of the particular philosophy, ideology, or theory; and relationship and application to education, especially to schools, curriculum, instruction, and to teachers and students.