In this text various specialists in education honsider the merits of current thinking on "self-esteem" in relation to their field of expertise. Each concludes that a radical reassessment of the ways in which we think about

Self-esteem and the schooling of girls - an introduction. Section 1 Critique: self-esteem research and equity programs of girls - a reassessment, Peter Renshaw; the subtle politics of self-esteem programs for girls, Jane Kenway, Sue Willis and Jenny Nevard. Section 2 Culture: ethnic minority girls and self-esteem, Georgina Tsolidis; aboriginal girls - self-esteem or self determination?, Pat Dudgeon, Simone Lazaroo and Harry Pickett; culture, gender and self-esteem - teaching indo- Chinese students, Jackie Wenner; working class girls and educational outcomes - is self-esteem an issue?, Johanna Wyn; privileged girls, private schools and the cutlure of success, Jane Kenway. Section 3 Curriculum: cultural differences and self-esteem - alternative curriculum approaches, Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis; personal growth or critical resistance? self-esteem in the English curriculum, Pam Gilbert; the power of mathematics - for whom?, Sue Willis; improving self-esteem - a whole school approach, Pam Jonas.