This booklet is the report of a task force appointed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals to examine the contemporary American social scene and the place of secondary education within that context. The report focuses mainly on the educational program of secondary schools, rather than attempting to survey all aspects of secondary education. Throughout the report, a variety of recommendations and proposals are presented to aid school administrators in improving the educational program of their schools. Although the task force considered a number of relevant publications in the course of its work, the report is based primarily on the experience of the task force members. Each member is, or has been, a secondary school administrator. (Author/JG)