This paper argued that a general theory that can provide a precise definition of educational goals and the means to accomplish them is absolutely necessary to resuscitate schooling, and that the classroom is the place where theory can be developed and tested. The paper makes the following points: (1) a general theory is vitally needed to deal with educational issues; (2) a general theory based on clear and specific democratic principles is preferable to existing and proposed theories; (3) educational theory needs to be developed and tested from the ground up; (4) the classroom is where important educational change occurs; (5) the more ordinary the classroom and undistinguished by special features, the more useful it will be in testing theory and initiating widespread change; (6) teachers, parents, and students have vital roles to play in the development of educational theory; (7) privatization is not only a poor presentation of democratic education, it is grossly undemocratic and is inadequate as a general theory; (8) the more that university scholars work equally with teachers, parents, and students, the more useful they will be in helping to develop and test theory; and (9) the individual classroom is where theory is tested. (Contains 95 references. (Author/LMI)