This collection of papers examines the premises for changes to the curriculum and the manner in which those changes are reflected in the development of schools in Finland and England. The papers provide an intrinsic context for integrating language and content. The book begins with a foreword, "The Challenges of Curriculum Development and the Complexity of Learning" (Jouko Kari); a preface, "Approaches to Curriculum Development: Learning from Research" (Eija Kimonen); and a note to language students, "The Ambiguity of English: Adding Value or Devaluing Identity" (Glyn Hughes). Part 1, "A Context for Curriculum Issues," includes (1) "The Function of Curriculum and the Concept of Learning" (Maijaliisa Rauste-vol Wright); (2) "Teacher Growth and Site-Based Curriculum Development: Developing Inservice Teacher Education" (Viljo Kohonen); and (3) "Effectiveness and Improvement in a Learning Organization"(Pentii Nikkanen). Part 2, "Examining Curriculum Change," includes (4) "A Decade of Curriculum Change in English Primary Schools" (Rosemary Webb and Graham Vulliamy); (5) "A Case-Study Analysis of Curriculum Change in Small Primary Schools in England" (Graham Vulliamy and Rosemary Webb); (6) "Curriculum Changes in the Finnish Comprehensive School: The Lessons of Three Decades" (Raimo Nevalainen, Eija Kimonen, and Seppo Hamalainen); and (7) "Teachers Facing the Challenges of Curriculum Change in the Small Rural School in Finland" (Eija Kimonen and Raimo Nevalainen). Part 3, "Focusing on Reflection," includes (8) "Integrating Content and Language in FL-Medium Instruction" (Anne Rasanen); (9) "New Teacher Professionalism and Collegial School Culture: Empirical Findings of an Action Research Project" (Viljo Kohonen); (10) "The Atmosphere of a Learning School" (Pentti Nikkanen); and (11) "Active Learning for Educational Change" (Eija Kimonen and Raimo Nevalainen). The book concludes with an "Afterword" (Rosemary Webb and Graham Vulliamy). (Papers contain references.) (SM)