Issues related to basic skills education are discussed, beginning with a review of recent trends in American education. The 1960's are characterized as a decade of innovation, while the 1970's are described in terms of interest in accountability and cost effectiveness. Several reasons for current concerns about basic skills are suggested: parents' expectations; industry's interest in the school's role in job training; a general emphasis on measurable quantities; and public reluctance to pay higher taxes. Classroom teachers are said to face a growing array of obstacles which seriously thwart their professional mission; many new policies contribute to the erosion of the individual teacher's autonomy. A variety of quoted sources indicates that there is little agreement on which skills are considered basic; definitions range from the three R's--reading, writing, and arithmetic--to ethics, coping skills, and self concept. Several news items illustrate the fact that literacy data may be misleading. (GDC)