This text begins with the basic elements of education, curriculum, instruction, and policy, and examines how these core principles have been defined, refined, and applied in the name of teaching. Five essential questions, Who is an educated person? What is worth knowing? What is learning? What is good teaching? What is the place of the public school in society?, provide a framework for further consideration of the three central themes. In addition, print and non-print supplements, multiple points of view on controversial issues, and access to primary resource readings help students understand how theory relates to real-life teaching scenarios.