This digest addresses the sometimes confrontational nature of decision making in the language arts. Pointing out that administrators are often thrust into the debate even when they do not want to be, the digest offers a set of principles for an educational philosophy that gives both the community and the learners a stake in the content and process of learning. The digest also discusses the type of school environment that is best for providing students with real learning experiences and the role of educators in encouraging children to learn language arts in a natural way. (NKA)