Cultural Foundations of Education is designed to provide a foundation for thinking about curricula and pedagogy.  The authors believe that educators must be equipped with the knowledge and understanding necessary for effective analysis of educational issues. 

The foundation of the new edition is that this book will contribute to more thoughtful dialogue about education in its cultural context.  A number of significant changes have been incorporated into the fourth edition, including chapter-opening vignettes, concepts of "private" and "operating" cultures and syncretism, and a discussion of the role of history in understanding cultural foundations of education.