This book contains selected papers and excerpts from books by Seymour B. Sarason which chronicle the development of his ideas on educational change. Early papers addressed several themes that were later incorporated into a perspective of educational change: (1) professionalism is a combination of making mistakes and valuing one's own knowledge; (2) individuals cannot change settings without first experiencing or participating in that setting; (3) prevention is more effective than repair; and (4) individuals will resist change very soon after they have requested help to change. Thirteen chapters address the following topics: the identification of individual assets for becoming a good teacher; problems with formal psychological testing; school-community relationships in a community program for mentally retarded children; the school culture and the processes of change; the nature-nurture controversy; the process of changing to the new-math curriculum; the purpose of schooling; and changes in governance and power in the politics of education. One table is included. (Contains 43 references.) (LMI)