That 1975 has ushered in a new and different way of thinking and reacting to public education at all levels as well as reflecting consumerism, confrontation, and conciliation is the main message of this paper. What follows is an attempt to place urban public schooling within the context of America, 1975. The short era of equal educational experience, in contrast to the two long standing eras of competitive privilege is drawing to an abrupt close unless an immediate change of direction in public policy emerges, as happened in 1954. What is most urgent today is not better urban education but a national full employment policy that guarantees to every high school graduate capable of work, a decent job and wage. Also needed in terms of bearing or early childhood education is a combination of new preschool programs with an emphasis on the responsibility of parenting. In conclusion, it urged that four specific areas of urban education become focal: parenting as an extension of the preschool movement; a shift from educator preference to schooling objectives; the development of a full employment program; and, relating urban education to the process of life-long learning. (Author/AM)