Asserts that educators should help students to make the transition to the real world of desktop publishing (DTP) as smooth as possible by presenting DTP concepts in the classroom. Offers seven principles of page design and a classroom exercise on DTP. Reviews several word processing programs that include DTP functions. (PRA)

Pupils in middle schools should have ample opportunities to write with the use of word processors. Legible writing in longhand will always be necessary in selected situations but, nevertheless, much drudgery is taken care of when using a word processor. Word processors tend to be very user friendly in that few mechanical skills are needed by the…