A Self-Help Reform Model

By Frank Riessman

That schools are in a long-term crisis is the ultimate truism, repeated ad nauseam for the last 30 years. Head Start does not have enough teachers; classes are too large; young people upon graduation cannot write a decent letter or comprehend an essay written at the level of The New York Times.

It is apparent that the schools need more help--resources, money, staff, knowledge. However, it would seem that over the past two decades with increased funding schools have not done a significantly better job. This may be due to the new tasks the schools are required to deal with, such as combatting teenage pregnancy, providing AIDS education, and so on. But in an "era of limits,'' with enormous attention focused on reducing the federal budget deficit, the chances for large increases in funding for the schools do not...