Ten American academics contribute nine chapters exploring place as a social aspect of education, the forces that shape the space we call school, and the ability of that public space to represent the needs and desires of the constituents it serves. The essays address issues of place and identity as a philosophical tool used to begin a dialogue as individuals and groups or communities; as aesthetic in which space redefines what counts as knowledge and teaching to restructure classrooms and inner-city schools; and as political and historical examinations of identity as evidenced in home schooling, literature and curriculum, and school consolidation. No subject index. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)