A topical and provocative volume that invites consideration of the most fundamental issues concerning future educational provision: what is the purpose of our schools, and what should we do in them? Cutting-edge research by contributors who are leading figures internationally in philosophy and education, for whom these issues have been particular points of concern Includes a substantial keynote essay by leading philosopher of education, Richard Pring, which is the springboard for the complementary essays that follow Engages with questions Pring raises under five themes: defending and questioning the comprehensive ideal; common schools in multicultural societies; common schools and religion; school choice and the comprehensive ideal; and common schools and inclusion Dedicated to the memory of Terence H. McLaughlin, whose tireless pursuit of the philosophical questions and challenges raised by the common school and the comprehensive ideal is emulated in these pages