This book attempts to serve as a compendium and a chronology of secondary education in the United States, taking a broad rather than a narrow approach and touching on a great many topics and issues. Chapters 1 and 2 present a history of secondary schools and a discussion of adolescence. Chapter 3 discusses curriculum in secondary schools, addressing such topics as textbooks, humanism, vocational education, curriculum differentiation, and postmodern curriculum. Chapter 4 looks briefly at types and characteristics of secondary schools, homeschooling, year-round schools, virtual schools, extracurricular activities, and school athletics. Chapter 5 discusses the standardization of secondary education, focusing on standards, assessments, performance and portfolio assessments, and accountability. Chapter 6 examines the commercialization of secondary education and includes a discussion of voucher programs. Chapter 7 presents a comprehensive list of organizations, associations, and government agencies whose work deals with education and learning, educational reform, and specifically secondary education. Chapter 8 provides a selected list of print and nonprint resources. Each of the first six chapters contains its own reference list. (Contains a subject index) (WFA)