The past decade has been a time of grim realization of the shortcomings of education and especially its resistance to internal reform, resulting in the erosion of the confidence of the people. Marland called his embryonic concept of reform career education, and it had as its birthplace the community junior college which denied the need to dichotomize education into academic and occupational components. Focusing on practicality and relevance as well as abstract knowledge, career education commits itself thematically to credibility, accountability and flexibility. It includes the entire range of learning experience from childhood through maturity, and is not limited to formal education. Career education should free Americans by preparing them to make intelligent career choices and to prepare for life in the broadest possible sense, via intrinsic motivation. The role of the two-year colleges in providing opportunities to millions of Americans is praised. The author's hope is for the achievement of a partnership of learner and institution as a vital, humane, effective instrument for individual and community betterment. (KS)