In this first ever published study of life inside Indonesian schools, this book uniquely explores the role that classroom teachers play in school reform efforts. Weaving together narrative description and critical analysis, Christopher Bjork highlights the complexities of teachers' behaviour and locates their actions within the broader cultures of education and government in Indonesia. He also focuses on the Indonesian government's recent attempts to delegate increased power to classroom teachers. The decision to decentralize represented a significant departure from previous education policies. For the first time teachers were asked to perform as leaders rather than followers in their schools. Most educators resisted these opportunities to increase their influence, opting instead to conform to the status quo. Analyzing this lack of action, the book connects the stasis to deeply engrained views about the role of the Indonesian teacher within the schools, the society, and the state.