The significance of this book lies in its demand that education be put first following a period of expansion of the political role. The demand comes as it has become clear to all that talk of comprehensive social reform without reform of the school is meaningless. François Dubet and Marie Duru-Bellat make their frank contribution over the problems of reform experienced by educational systems and deal in breadth and depth with the key issues of education. They advance a new vision and distinctive perspective that combines criticism with proposals while diagnosing, addressing, and investigating the state of education in France from various angles.