Information on current trends and issues in English instruction, compiled by the directors of six National Council of Teachers of English commissions, is presented in this report, the seventh annual report by the commissions. The commissions and their directors are as follows: (1) Reading Commission (Constance Weaver); (2) Commission on Literature (John Pfordresher); (3) Commission on Media (William V. Costanzo); (4) Commission on Composition (Sharon Crowley); (5) Commission on Language (Jesse Perry); and (6) Commission on Curriculum (Linda Shadiow). Some of the subjects discussed in the document include whole language, concerns about the widespread increase of legislative actions regarding teaching, narrow concepts of literacy, the literary canon, literature instruction and evaluation, the dangers of "performance goals," teacher education, teacher as researcher projects, the role and use of mass media and new technologies in the classroom, writing assessment and the politics thereof, language arts textbooks and their assumptions about teaching and learning, the use of computers in the classroom, ability grouping, and local curriculum development. (SR)