Discusses the resurgence of censorship in the schools. (FL)

Argues that in order to determine whether public schools are performing adequately, some agreement must be reached as to what educational programs are supposed to do and for whom. (FL)

While Communities should unite for positive action, author feels that the schools should exercise some initiative in solving the difficult discipline problem. (Editor/CB)

Argues that school officials need to increase their knowledge about the criticism being leveled at public education. Offers a historical perspective on educational criticism, lists sources of information about schooling, and discusses factors that limit comparisons between present and past student achievement. (FL)

Outlines education's benefits to both society and the individual and argues that these benefits are often undervalued by many critics. (FL)

Concludes that those who view the sixteenth annual Gallup Poll of public attitudes toward public schools as indicating a general willingness to finance school improvements may be right, but that if public's attention is not quickly called to the fact that more dollars are needed to improve schools, the urgency generated by the poll may be lost.…

Examines how the current disarray in American schools and in other social institutions affects students, the schools, and society in general. Offers suggestions for aligning the schools and other institutions on a path aimed at socializing youth. (FL)

Stresses the necessity for the public to have a genuine respect for teaching as a profession and for teachers as professionals. Emphasizes that the public must view teachers as individuals who know what they are doing, are knowledgeable about their work, and are acting in good faith for the benefit of the students. (NKA)

Describes the Middletown (Ohio) Community Resource Workshop, a joint effort between schools and businesses in the community designed to promote cooperation and understanding between education and business. (FL)

Presents strategies for promoting school community relations with a district-wide communications program. Suggests working with news media at the district level, focusing on the journalistic values of proximity, timeliness, prominence, consequence, human interest, and conflict. Discusses the roles and responsibilities of the information officer,…

Examines the pros and cons of teacher tenure, discusses the changing climate in education concerning tenure, and raises questions about the results of abolishing or changing tenure laws. (FL)

Educators must realize that the social problems weakening the schools, such as declining enrollment, falling test scores, and tighter budgets, will not magically disappear. Assessing blame solves nothing. Rather, professionals must band together to improve their own competence in the face of public criticism. (SJL)

Discusses the issue of school discipline problems and offers some tentative solutions to the problem. (HOD)

Minimum competency testing seems here to stay. The challenge to teachers is to promote public realization that test performance cannot completely measure complex skills; that mandated basic skills instruction may be an oversimplification of the teaching/learning process; and that definitions of minimum competence constantly change. (SJL)

Argues that student performance on standardized tests should not be the basis for educational reform and presents suggestions for expanding the criteria by which school success is judged. (SRT)