The philosophy upon which this monograph is based is the belief that one of the responsibilities of the schools is to prepare all youth to become active and well-informed participants in a democratic society. Alternatives and options are recommended for improving the school curriculum, governance, teacher effectiveness, testing, discipline, and pedagogy. Among the options offered are: (1) abandoning centrally mandated textbooks; (2) instituting peer review of teachers by their colleagues; (3) replacing centralized testing with school-based evaluations sensitive to the history and needs of each community; and (4) establishing more democratic forms of governance and discipline which foster greater community among students, teachers, and parents while also advancing the individual, legal, and constitutional rights of each. Appended to the booklet are four short biographies, a list of individuals the press may contact for more information, a press release, and a representative list of persons who have endorsed the statement. (JD)