The Rise of the Modern Educational System breaks new ground in that it is a pioneering socio-historical analysis of change and development in secondary education in three European countries (England, France, Germany) in the mid to late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The authors develop novel theoretical forms of analysis -- in particular those of 'systematisation' (Muller) and 'segmentation' (Ringer) -- which enable a genuine cross-cultural study and assessment to be effectively carried through. Although clear historical and institutional differences are apparent in all three...