This report summarizes and compares findings of researchers' and teachers' opinions in six subject areas (literature, social studies, science, mathematics, music, and art) about ideal and actual elementary school curricula. Three researchers and three teachers participated in each subject area. Participants were asked to write detailed responses to a questionnaire eliciting views about actual and ideal curricula. Five- to 6-hour interviews were conducted regarding ideal curricula and opinions concerning the most widely used textbook series in participants' subject area. Analyses revealed that all participants agreed that existing curricula material should be revised to focus on a limited number of key understandings that might be taught in greater depth. Despite agreement about the faults of existing curricula, however, there was considerable difference of opinion about how to improve current practice. Teachers tended to approach curriculum planning with the child in mind; researchers approached planning with the discipline in mind. Another key distinction related to differences in how respondents viewed the nature of knowledge. (MM)