Dalya Yafa Markovich is a senior lecturer of Education and Sociology in Beit Berl College, Israel.

"There is no substitute for a rigorous and thorough qualitative research, if one wishes to gain deep and nuanced understanding of school cultural ethos in contemporary heterogeneous societies, aiming at forging core curriculum. Markovich's book grapples with this task most impressively. Viewing the school as one of the major sites in which national identities are iterated and reiterated, inculcated and contested, in nationally, racially, ethnically and culturally diverse societies, her book is sure to become a significant contribution not only to the study of the Israeli education system but also to the study of education systems worldwide featuring similar background conditions."Prof. Yossi Yonah, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

• 1. Introduction. 2. Analytical fields. 3. The field – the Kedma school. 4. Methodology. 5. The matriculation exams. 6. The students. 7. Art education. 8. The annual school trip. 9. The national Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers. 10. The IDF recruiting program. 11. Education for civic engagement. 12. Concluding remarks.

Dalya Yafa Markovich is a senior lecturer of Education and Sociology in Beit Berl College, Israel.

"There is no substitute for a rigorous and thorough qualitative research, if one wishes to gain deep and nuanced understanding of school cultural ethos in contemporary heterogeneous societies, aiming at forging core curriculum. Markovich's book grapples with this task most impressively. Viewing the school as one of the major sites in which national identities are iterated and reiterated, inculcated and contested, in nationally, racially, ethnically and culturally diverse societies, her book is sure to become a significant contribution not only to the study of the Israeli education system but also to the study of education systems worldwide featuring similar background conditions."Prof. Yossi Yonah, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

• 1. Introduction. 2. Analytical fields. 3. The field – the Kedma school. 4. Methodology. 5. The matriculation exams. 6. The students. 7. Art education. 8. The annual school trip. 9. The national Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers. 10. The IDF recruiting program. 11. Education for civic engagement. 12. Concluding remarks.