"The Effective Teacher" series covers all aspects of teaching from the theory of education to the teaching of specific subjects. Aware of teachers' needs and the pressures they face, the series aims to take a realistic approach to teaching and to life in the classroom. "Contemporary Debates in Education" considers whether the reforms which have been brought into the educational field during the 1980s constitute a revolution or a restoration in education. Do these reforms represent a departure from, or a return to tradition? To answer this question the first part of this book concentrates on the immediate historical origins of the reforms of the 80s and early 90s. Subsequent chapters examine the long standing issues in education over the last century in order to relate current reforms and changes to their broader historical background. It uses evidence from a wide variety of sources to further discussion among trainee teachers and their professional colleagues and gives further reading suggestions for those wishing to broaden their knowledge on this subject, such as parents and school governors.