To what extent is the design of American schooling adapted to the lofty aspirations educators have enunciated during the last century? I first enumerate these aspirations as well as the basic design of schooling; then I evaluate the match. After highlighting the limitations of the basic design, I point to some alternative settings offering greater likelihood of realizing these aspirations? In the conclusion, I identify three stances one might adopt with respect to the results of the analysis. (Contains 3 notes.)