Based on the work of 11 women and men from the Commission on Writing formed by the Council for Basic Education, this book concerns the necessity and rewards of learning to write. The book stresses teaching and learning writing in the English class, but it also views writing activities as parts of general education. Considering the unsatisfactory state of writing that currently prevails in elementary and secondary schools, the book analyzes both the origins of that state and the alternatives open to teachers and students. Following a conceptualization of the problem in chapter one, the remaining chapters of the book discuss writing and the environment, why people write, what writing is, the conditions of learning, the conditions of teaching, and the outlook for writing improvement. Appendixes provide resources about writing instruction and a selected list of children's books. (RL)