This book examines the potential pitfalls in public school classrooms related to censorship, revealing some fundamental clashes of values over the nature of schooling and the purposes of education. The essence of this book comes from a 6-year case study of one elementary school in which a challenge became a crisis. After an "Introduction" (James K. Daly, Patricia L. Schall, and Rosemary W. Skeele), there are seven chapters in three parts. Part 1, "A Case Study of a Community in Conflict," includes: (1) "The Best of Times...the Worst of Times: A Case Study of a Community in Conflict" (James K. Daly, Patricia L. Schall, and Rosemary W. Skeele); (2) "The Season of Light, the Season of Darkness: A School and Curriculum are Condemned" (James K. Daly, Patricia L. Schall, and Rosemary W. Skeele); and (3) "The Spring of Hope, the Winter of Despair: Analysis" (James K. Daly, Patricia L. Schall, and Rosemary W. Skeele). Part 2, "With Liberty and Justice for All? The Ambiguities of Academic Freedom in the Public School," includes: (4) "Protecting the Right to Teach and Learn" (Jack L. Nelson and William B. Stanley) and (5) "Voices of the Challenged" (James K. Daly, Patricia L. Schall, and Rosemary W. Skeele), which features "The Adams County Witch" (Jan Cole), "The Saga of Sunshine City" (Janet Cooper), "The Teacher's Nightmare: Getting Fired for Good Teaching" (Cissy Lacks) "Filthy Little Books" (Gloria T. Pipkin), and "Curriculum on Trial" (Gretchen Klopfer Wing). Part 3, "The Politics of Change and Teacher Education," includes: (6) "Institutional Challenges to Pedagogy" (Joan Naomi Steiner) and (7) "The Distant Drum: A Call to Action" (James K. Daly, Patricia L. Schall, and Rosemary W. Skeele). The four appendixes present: Rock Spring Elementary School controversy time line; case study cast; slide presentation about the plan for excellence to parents and Waterview Board of Education; and organizations against censorship. (SM)