Editor's Introduction

Abstract

Social, economic, and political developments worldwide demand changes in education and schooling in many countries. Germany has a long tradition of education and the discussion about schools and change in instruction is continuing on all levels. Realizing that the old is of little use in a modern society, educators, researchers, and politicians are trying to modernize education through various means. The demands on schools and teachers are changing toward a more relevant education that students can apply to everyday life. Some use terms such as globalization and "second modern age" (Messner) to give this movement a name. The outside observer notes, however, that school improvement or attempts to change education in Germany are ongoing tasks and have not stopped since the late 1960s.