In this popular text Joel Spring provocatively analyzes the ideas of traditional and non-traditional philosophies from Confucianism to human rights regarding the contribution of education to the creation of a democratic society. The goal is to explore how governments use education to control and manage their populations, and to examine forms of education that claim to free people from authoritarian control. Wheels in the Head, a critically original work now in its third edition, is widely used as a text for courses on philosophical, social, political, and historical foundations of education, and critical issues in education. Reflecting its global relevance, a Chinese translation of the second edition was published in 2005. NEW TO THIS EDITION: Expanded analysis of the use of education by authoritarian states Revisions to more clearly relate educational ideas to the theme of "wheels in the head" a phrase coined by philosopher Max Stirner to describe the use of schools by modern governments to control their citizens. New sections on liberation education and on human rights education