The purpose of this first volume of the International Handbook of Educational Change is to delineate the roots of a movement toward educational change that grew up in - and grew out of - the turbulent political social economic and cultural life of the post-World War II years. Its authors who helped to create and shape the field examine their work from current perspectives raising issues that illustrate the connections between the recent history of education in general and the field of educational change in particular. The book deals with a range of issues from the effects of the GI Bill to the effects of school environment on student learning from the political realities of educational policy to social realities of teachers. Like subsequent volumes this book brings together evidence and insights on educational change issues from leading writers and researchers in the field from across the world.