This book is concerned with the educational underclass of students considered underachieving, remedial, or illiterate, and with the kinds of literacy and liberal arts curricula that can best help them. The book is divided into eight chapters. Chapter 1, "Our Schools and Our Children," reviews the author's experiences with students classed as underprepared and questions the efficacy of conventional reform initiatives for this population. Chapter 2, " I Just Wanna Be Average,'" recounts the author's own underachievement and the influence of an inspirational teacher. Chapter 3, "Entering the Conversation," describes the author's undergraduate experience and intellectual development. Chapter 4, "The Poem Is a Substitute for Love," is an account of the author's graduate study and his decision to withdraw short of completion. Chapter 5, "Literate Stirrings," describes the author's work with the Teacher Corps in East Los Angeles. Chapter 6, "Reclaiming the Classroom," recounts the author's experience teaching in the Veteran's Program. Chapter 7, "The Politics of Remediation," is a narrative of the author's work at the Tutorial Center at UCLA. Chapter 8, "Crossing Boundaries," recapitulates themes and fallacies common to all remedial education forums. "Epilogue: Lilia" summarizes the book's concerns. Notes and a 94-item bibliography are appended. (AF)