In an attempt to expand upon traditional course frameworks, this new text examines American education using a two-fold approach—chronological and conceptual. The four text units comprise a journey from earliest Native American informal instruction to today's multimedia classrooms. Chapter titles reflect this chronological approach, while content within chapters presents material thematically, addressing the education of social groups as it evolved within each time period. With this text then, instructors may take either tack—chronological or conceptual—without sacrificing any relevant material. Emphasis throughout is on the social history of education—kindergarten through secondary—with particular attention paid to race, sex, ethnicity, social class, language, and special needs.