Client systems are groups of students or citizens with a stake in the institution of education, who depend upon it, and who are motivated to take some action in its regard. Teachers comprise a third system with a professional interest in education. Each system is a complex of subsystems or subgroups with contradictory as well as complementary expectations. Growing dissatisfaction with the level of teacher performance is reflected by the increasing struggle for participation in the affairs of schools by the two client systems and the professionals. Recommended school system responses to these pressures include (1) opening up to a consideration of subsystem needs, (2) dealing positively with problems of client system linkages, and (3) utilizing contemporary rational decision making procedures. (JK)