Educated for the 21st century?

Using cameos of children whose schooling spans the millennium and of teachers' attempts to foster their individuality and talents under pressures for conformity, we question whether the long‐term educational interests of pupils are being fully served. We suggest that even for the secure and stable majority the school curriculum has serious shortcomings in limiting the freedom and creativity of teachers and in prioritising technicist over humane values. Moreover, the goal of social inclusion depends considerably on educational inclusiveness. We ask whether the depth of social and psychological disadvantage in Britain is within the capacity of the current system to correct. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.