The Phi Delta Kappan educational forum in Chicago provided a viable means of soliciting community input and enabling stakeholders to enhance their understanding of public schools' purpose, identify measures to assess the current system's effectiveness, and recommend necessary changes. Forum participants heard statements from state and Chicago…

Based on a two-year study of four elementary schools in a poor, crime-ridden section of Chicago, this article finds the public school an island of relative safety in an ocean of danger. Community-wide approaches are needed to stop lawlessness and fear in innercity schools. Includes seven references. (MLH)