While visiting school-to-work sites, the author observed numerous programs that teach students the "new basics" or "basics-plus" skills needed for success in today's economy. These skills include an ability to use technology, communicate ideas and information orally and in writing, work in groups, solve knotty problems,…

For two Arizona schools with widely diverse ethnic makeup and socioeconomic backgrounds, the arts became a medium for defusing the potential for conflict. During spring 1995, sixth graders from both schools participated in "New Beginnings," a collaborative poetry and visual arts project. Through their interactions, the children created a…