This guide for discussing underlying issues in public elementary and secondary education was prepared for the purpose of encouraging and enabling conversation and action within and among local churches, and deals with the following six issues: (1) Whose understanding of education gives direction to educational activity? Whose goals prevail? (2) Who are the partners sharing educational work in our community? Who is responsible for education? (3) Who benefits or profits from education in the community? (4) Who pays for the education of children and youth in the community? (5) What methods, materials, and procedures are necessary for education in the community? and (6) How can we ascertain the quality of education in the community? For each issue, there are sections clarifying the issue, listing questions to help participants gain a local perspective on the issue, quoting statements about the issue from various church bodies, listing questions to help Christians consider their responsibilities, identifying resources for further study of the issue, and listing questions to help determine a course of action and advocacy; a feedback form for recording summaries of discussion outcomes is also provided. A pamphlet accompanying the guide identifies issues cited by recent national education reports and suggests that aspects of the issues be considered by churches. (Author/DCS)