Conditions of language and literacy are considered by a Texas educator and presented at a 1982 hearing held by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. It is noted that a 1979 policy at the University of Texas system established a freshman-level remedial English course for credit. At the University of Texas, San Antonio, this course is designed as a composition course with a maximum of 20 students per class. The University also offers critical reading and writing as one course. It is suggested that in the United States, lower-division English offerings are being revised to emphasize the following: composing rather than editing; writing for various audiences; teaching the process of inquiry rather than only the research paper form; teaching writing through the writing workshop rather than through the lecture hall approach; and helping students create through writing what they think. The Texas approach to criterion-referenced testing in writing is also described. The test includes a writing sample that is scored holistically and a section in which spelling and other language skills are assessed through objective tests. It is suggested that preservice and inservice programs should educate/reeducate elementary and secondary teachers to teach writing in conjunction with the other language arts. (SW)