The Reagan administration's "Disorder in Our Public Schools" is criticized for misleading statistics, an accusing tone, old data, political motives, and a failure to raise constructive debate. This essay identifies as real needs support for teachers and funds for educating disruptive students. (MJL)

A critical look is taken at the standards and philosophy current in the public schools. The continuing trend of permissiveness at all levels is deplored as producing young people who are unable to function literately after their schooling is finished. It is pointed out that teaching innovations over the past years have resulted in increased…

Discusses what high school students are saying about disruptive students. Students expressed a desire for higher standards, for themselves and their peers, in the areas of both discipline and academics. However, students' standards for and expectations of their school are declining. (GR)

Describes a Wellesley (Massachusetts) study concerning why parents are moving their children from public to private schools. The reasons--school closings, discipline problems, unresponsive schools, and lack of teacher and administrator concern for the individual child--point to the importance of the principal. (Author/JM)

Tuition tax credits and their possible future effects from the point of view of a supporter are discussed in this paper. The discussion includes a look at the positive effects of homogeneity in schools, maintaining that achievement is higher in private schools, where students and parents share common attitudes toward discipline and education. Also…

Examines the response made by San Antonio (Texas) public schools to school violence and discusses the competing disciplinary views offered to address the problems. The author distinguishes between rhetorical and actual efforts to solve community problems in urban areas that surround urban schools and argues for mediation as a theory of social…

Now is the time for an image change in small school education. Based on the 1981 Coleman Report, small school education overflows with advantages: low student-teacher ratio, opportunity to view each student in a holistic way, and the ability to control the behavior of the student body as a whole. (LC)

Discusses the work of Larry Dixon, assistant superintendent for resources in the Junction City (Kansas) school district, who supports principals in their efforts to improve schools. The paper describes Project TurnAround Teacher, which works in a nontraditional manner to help at-risk students who are discipline problems. (SM)

California's Proposition 8, known as "The Victims' Bill of Rights," contains a safe-schools provision that states: "All students and staff of primary, elementary, junior high and senior high schools have the inalienable right to attend campuses which are safe, secure and peaceful." Through extended reference to federal and…