A critical and comparative study of recent changes in the New Zealand educational system is provided in this book. These changes have been largely inspired by the New Right, yet they have been introduced by a Labor government with an apparent commitment to equality of opportunity. For Western societies impacted by New Right policies the New Zealand situation indicates ways in which educational decentralization policies may facilitate the development of egalitarian and democratic educational policies. The aim of the book is to demonstrate how recent education reforms in New Zealand can be developed in a democratic way. The 14 chapters examine the context in which these reforms have occurred, yet show how the experiences are relevant to other countries concerned with the development of democratic education. Chapters include the following case studies: "Citizens or Consumers? The Politics of Educational Reform: An Introduction," by Hugh Lauder, Cathy Wylie, and Rose Parker-Taunoa; "Education and the Role of the State: Devolution and Control Post-Picot," by John Codd, Liz Gordon, and Richard Harker; "Education, Democracy, and the Crisis of the Welfare State," by Hugh Lauder; "Power to the People? The Great Educational Reform Act and Tomorrow's Schools: A Critical and Comparative Perspective," by John Evans and Brian Davies; "The Politics of Reforming Maori Education: The Transforming Potential of Kura Kaupapa Maori," by Graham Hingangaroa Smith; "'I Just Want a Decent Job,' Working Class Girls' Education: Perspectives and Policy Issues," by Alison Jones;"Notes on the Schooling of the English Working Class: What Lessons for New Zealand? A Comparative Briefing Paper," by Gerald Grace; "The Politics of Curriculum Innovation," by G. I. A. R. Khan; "Towards Pluralism and Democracy: The Administration of an Inner City School," by Ros Heinz; "Public Examinations and the Structuring of Inequality: A Case Study," by David Hughes and Hugh Lauder; "Illiteracy, Improper Literacy and the Development of an Underclass," by Colin Lankshear; "Towards an Alternative Transition Education Policy," by Wanda Korndorffer; "Trade Union Education and Democracy," by Linda Sissons; and "Work and Education," by Alan Scott and John Freeman-Moir. (LMI)