Published in conjunction with the diamond jubilee of the National Council of Teachers of English, the essays in this yearbook explore the dichotomies characterizing Council debates over the years, such as freedom and discipline, tradition and reform, theory and practice--all reflecting a profession defining itself in a rhythm of consensus and dissent. The introductory essay, by editor Marjorie Farmer and Yearbook Committee Chair Ben Nelms, provides an overview of the history of the profession. The remaining essays are divided into three areas--content, context, and change. Titles of the essays and their authors are as follows: (1) "Language" (Harold B. Allen); (2) "Reading/Literature" (Rudine Sims); (3) "Written Composition: Progress and the Search for Paradigms" (Paul T. Bryant); (4) "Oral Communication" (Donald Rubin); (5) "The English Curriculum Today" (Ouida Clap); (6) "Teacher Education" (Theodore Hipple); (7) "The Uses of Research" (Allan Glatthorn with Catherine C. Hatala and Beatrice Moore); (8) "Enduring Issues in Language Arts Testing" (Rexford Brown); (9) Minorities and Standardized Tests" (P.A. Ramsey); (10) "Books and the New Technologies" (Charles Suhor); (11) "The Political Issues since 1960" (Miriam T. Chaplin); (12) "Imperatives for the Future" (James R. Squire); (13) "NCTE Presidents: Priorities for the Future" (Nancy S. McHugh, Sheila Fitzgerald, Richard Lloyd-Jones, and Stephen N. Tchudi). The yearbook concludes with a brief statement by NCTE Executive Director John C. Maxwell, and an afterword from the editor. (HTH)