In a global knowledge economy, filling in the bubbles on a standardized test isn't going to prepare children to succeed in life. This is the time to shed the old conflicts and come together. In this article, the author suggests a new path forward--toward a 21st-century education system, a serious and comprehensive reform plan to transform U.S.…

A public school teacher recounts her personal struggle against compulsory unionization in Michigan and describes the adverse effects of collective bargaining on public education. These include loss of public support, antagonism between teachers and administrators, and a decline in teacher professionalism and educational quality. (TE)