This article presents, mostly in outline form, a review of the reports of the six USOE National Field Task Forces on the Improvement and Reform of American Education--Administration and Supervision, Basic Studies, Community, Council of Chief State School Officers, Higher Education, and Teachers. (JA)

Eliminating errors is neither as simple nor as important as back-to-basics critics believe; however, correctness does need to be considered in composition instruction. Error affects a reader's judgment of writing quality and interferes with the communication between reader and writer. It may also hinder the composing process of some writers. Major…

A model basic speech communication course is described in this paper, along with guidelines for developing and maintaining an individualized approach to the basic course. The course outline describes the university environment where the course is taught; the structure of the department offering the course; the philosophy and course objectives; the…

Strong faculty relationships can benefit developmental programs by increasing referrals, creating a climate of support for developmental activities, and increasing resources available to programs; therefore, finding, keeping, and using faculty friends represent essential needs for such programs. Faculty friends may be generated in a number of ways…

Using a single theme for a course in basic writing can be an effective and enjoyable way of teaching and learning. One college that developed such a program saw as the criteria for the course: learning grammar, writing at least eight in-class paragraphs of 300 words each in the quarter, attending the college's writing center and working with a…

Forty-three students in a developmental English course participated in a study to discover whether students' writing would improve and their satisfaction with the course would be increased if they were permitted to revise their papers after the papers were marked but before they were graded rather than after the papers were both marked and graded,…

This paper argues that the "back to basics" movement is regressive and that regression is the characteristic mode of fear-ridden personalities. It is argued that many people in American society today have lost their ability to laugh and do not have the sense of humor which is crucial to a healthy mental state. Such topics as necrophilia, mental…

Presents current items about the teaching of writing that "every department head ought to know," and suggests some reasons why the teaching of writing might be a personally rewarding intellectual experience. (Author/GT)

A test of 3,602 undergraduate students demonstrated that those with low apprehension about writing perform better on tests of writing skills including grammar, mechanics, and larger concerns in writing skills than those with high apprehension. (JMF)

As college and university faculties become increasingly involved in the development of new program specifications, it also becomes more apparent that the need for teacher educators to come to grips with the many issues of competency assessment is critical. (Author/MJB)

Speculates on the reasons for declining interest in the arts and asserts that, for educators, the goal of developing students' sensory and psychic strength is not just an abstract ideal. (KS)

Describes ways to help students improve their spelling ability. (MKM)

Suggests that teachers and administrators from our colleges and schools voluntarily investigate a new sequence of study--one that would focus on our common heritage, highlight the shared experiences of the present, and focus on human prospects for the future while teaching basic skills. (Author/IRT)

Educational practices of the back-to-basics movement are ineffective at producing good readers and writers, whether "goodness" be judged by conventionality, congruity, or practicability. (DD)