In this book, James Porter examines the attempt to deliberately neutralise the school as an independent and democratising institution. Pursuing a deeply flawed free market ideology, leading governments and major international agencies have severely limited the capacity of the school to fulfil the political, social and cultural functions that have characterised its previous role in democratic society. The author argues for an end to ‘command and control’ policies and for ‘reschooling’, so that self-confident and independent institutions can enable individuals to live securely and creatively in an age of unprecedented opportunity and risk.