The concept of the 'learning society' brings to mind access to education for all and a culture of lifelong learning. But government interventions in education such as the National Curriculum and standardized tests have only served to consolidate the connection between learning and schooling. Schools, furthermore, now have to juggle an increasingly diverse and incompatible range of tasks, providing equal opportunities while catering for individual needs and hitting academic attainment targets while preparing pupils for life in the global workplace. In this climate, what is the future for a democratic system of education?This important book aims to encourage debate about alternative ways of providing education, and discusses how these are being practiced now in Britain, Europe and the USA. Taking the issue of human rights and access as a central theme, the author examines the current state of education provision and the possibilities for its future.This book will be of interest to specialists in education, politics and philosophy, and also to those seeking alternative ways of educating their children.