Evaluates E. D. Hirsch, Jr.'s proposal for cultural literacy against four standards: clarity, rationale, feasibility, and opportunity cost. Identifying serious flaws in the proposal, Newmann states that the term "cultural literacy" is ambiguous, presents Hirsch's rationale and its shortcomings, argues that the proposal is not feasible, and identifies related opportunity costs. Hirsch's response to Newmann follows. (GEA)