Argues that reform of teaching conditions will only come through teachers' initiatives and crusades. Offers ways English teachers can improve their working conditions, including (1) achieving consensus among their colleagues; (2) presenting a workload study to principals, personnel directors, and superintendents; (3) requesting additional…

Presents a high school English teacher's experience taking maternity leave and deciding to return to teaching on a part-time basis. (MM)

Proposes that English teachers hone their skills and devote time and effort to building public relations. Considers ways of telling the English teacher's story regionally, through letter writing campaigns, public service announcements, and public affairs programing. (RL)

Discusses problems new teachers have with the teaching profession, including the low salaries, the adversary relationship between teachers and administrators, overly large classes, and too few instructional materials. (EL)

Four contributors discuss the difficulty of instituting a fair merit pay system, the threat merit pay may pose to teachers' academic freedom and job security, and possible solutions to the merit pay dilemma, such as a tenure/merit pay option, evaluation by a central board, or by peers. (MM)

Develops a model of teacher adjustment to being reassigned to new content areas that is based on four assumptions: change is a process, it is made first by individuals and then by institutions, it is highly personal, and it entails developmental growth in feelings and skills. Suggests ways to help reassigned teachers adjust. (MM)

Essays argue that (1) unions can translate professional concerns into action; (2) unions need to concentrate more on the professional concern of improving education; and (3) only a national teachers union has the membership, staff, and strength to deal effectively with the multitude of concerns facing contemporary education. (MM)