THE PRESENT DILEMMA OF BOSTON'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CAUSED BY THE STUDENTS' POOR READING AND ARITHMETIC ACHIEVEMENT, A LACK OF MODERN BUILDING AND MATERIAL FACILITIES, UNREALISTIC FACULTY PROMOTION POLICIES, RACIAL CONTROVERSIES, AND A LACK OF COOPERATION BETWEEN AGENCIES AND PERSONNEL SERVING THE SCHOOLS. STUDIES REVEALED THAT BOSTON STUDENTS BEGIN THEIR SCHOOL CAREERS WITH BETTER THAN AVERAGE SKILLS, BUT BY FOURTH GRADE THE AVERAGES DROP BELOW THE NATIONAL FIGURE AND CONTINUE TO DECLINE. NEW IDEAS AND PROGRAMS SHOULD BEGIN IN THE BOSTON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.