This book, part of a series about differing viewpoints on education in America, examines how education can be improved for this and future generations of America's youth. The following papers and their authors are included: "Public Education Needs Extensive Reform" (John Taylor Gatto); "Public Education Does Not Need Extensive Reform" (Gerald Bracey); "A Longer School Year Would Improve Public Education (Chester Finn); opposing view--Colman McCarthy; "Eliminating Standardized Tests Would Improve Schools" (D. Monty Neill, Moe J. Medina); opposing view--Gregory J. Cizek, Ramsay Selden; "National Teacher Certification Would Improve Teaching" (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards); opposing view--William Raspberry; "Merit Pay Programs Would Improve Teacher Performance" Lamar Alexander; opposing view--Keith Geiger; "Extended Teacher Education Produces More Effective Teachers" (Robert G. Carroll); opposing view--Willis D. Hawley; "Parental School Choice Programs Would Improve Education" (John E. Chubb, Terry M. Moe); opposing view--Bill Honig; "Government Should Offer School Vouchers" (Sally D. Reed); opposing view--House of Representatives Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education; "Choice Programs Should Include Religious Schools" (Myron Lieberman); opposing view--Americans for Religious Liberty; "Multiculturalism Benefits All Students" (New York State Social Studies Review and Development Committee); opposing view--Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.; "The Afrocentric Idea in Education" (Molefi Kete Asante); opposing view--Anne Wortham;"Bilingual Education Helps Minority Children" (Rita Esquivel); opposing view--Rosalie Pedalino Porter; "Public Schools Should Teach Religious Studies" (Warren A. Nord); opposing view--R. Joseph Hoffmann; "Public Schools Should Allow Formal Prayer" (William E. Dannemeyer); opposing view--Edd Doerr; "Student Religious Clubs Should Be Allowed in Public Schools" (Robert K. Skolrood); opposing view--Jon G. Murray; "The Tenure System Should Be Preserved" (Henry Rosovsky); opposing view--Page Smith; "Universities Should Strive for a Culturally Diverse Student Body" (Troy Duster); opposing view--Dinesh D'Souza; "Universities Should Teach Multiculturalism" (Beverly Guy-Sheftall); and opposing view--George F. Will. (GLR)