Drawing on examples from England and Russia, the author discusses three issues involving politics and education: 1) what proportion of society's resources are to be allocated to education, 2) how and by whom shall this allocation be determined, and 3) should control be centralized or decentralized once resources are allocated. (Author/RM)

Maintains that the practices of various school systems are not directly transferable to other societies, in part, because to be effective, each educational system must closely reflect the ethos of those it is called upon to serve. Examples of failed attempts to transfer practices are included. (JDH)