Rapid social change with profound implications for the raising of children contributes significantly to the problems schools face, but it is also true that schools can exacerbate children's problems. Suggestions are made to improve education and to make schools places where children are helped to cope with stress. Current practices that might be modified include: (1) defining the role of schools in terms of academic instruction with education in the basic academic disciplines; (2) re-establishing the role of teacher as primary instructor; (3) restoring the teacher to the focal point of the classroom; (4) regularizing the school schedule to approximate a set routine; (5) trying direct instruction as the primary instructional technique; (6) addressing educational needs in terms of the developmental and cognitive level the child has attained; (7) relying primarily on whole-class instruction directed to the class average; (8) promoting the value of individual achievement with the child assuming personal responsibility for success or failure; (9) using grades and tests that realistically reflect actual student achievement; (10) building self-confidence through realistic academic achievement; (11) directing counseling toward students with problems rather than focusing on preventive programs for groups; (12) setting up and consistently enforcing a brief set of classroom rules; and (13) rather than establishing parent involvement programs, teachers should approach parents individually. (SLD)