Philip D. Vairo is the former president of Worcester State College and acting vice president for academic affairs and dean emeritus of California State University's School of Education. He was distinguished professor of education and director of the Miami Touro Project, Touro College.Sheldon Marcus was the associate dean in the Graduate School of Education and former chair of Urban Education prior to returning to full-time teaching and research as professor of education at Fordham University in New York City.Max Weiner is currently dean and professor emeritus of Fordham University's Graduate School of Education. He was also a professor and dean of teacher education at the City University of New York.

As a teacher with over 25 years of experience, I recommend this book without reservation. It is pragmatic, realistic, and succinctly covers the issues that all of us face everyday. This book is a reading must for my colleagues in the teaching profession.

• Part 1 PART I: The Teaching Profession TodayChapter 2 The Status of the Teaching Profession: Where Are We Going?Chapter 3 Decision-Makers Influencing Educational Policy: Who Are They?Chapter 4 Competition in the Educational Scene Today: Is This A New Era?Part 5 PART II: The Teacher and the MarketplaceChapter 6 The Professional Preparation of Teachers: What Is the Remedy?Chapter 7 Job Hunting and Mobility: What Should You Know?Chapter 8 Merit Pay: Has Its Day Arrived?Chapter 9 Teacher Unions and Collective Bargaining: What Are Your Views?Chapter 10 Teaching Performance and Accountability: Problems or Opportunities?Chapter 11 Mobility in the Profession: Politics or Merit?Part 12 PART III: Effective Learning and TeachingChapter 13 Effective Classroom Management: Can It Be Achieved?Chapter 14 Curriculum and Textbook Selection: What Needs to Be Changed?Chapter 15 National Standards: What Are the Dangers?Chapter 16 Tests and Other Evaluation Tools: Are They Fair?Chapter 17 The Grading System: How Do You Handle It?Chapter 18 Teaching Controversial Issues: Should They Be Included in the Curriculum?Chapter 19 Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Groupings: Which Do You Prefer?Chapter 20 Homework: Too Little or Too Much?Chapter 21 Parent-Teacher-Principal Relationships: Can They Be Effective?Part 22 PART IV: Evolving IssuesChapter 23 The Extended School Year: Are We Ready for It?Chapter 24 Separate Schools for the Sexes and School Uniforms: Are Old Ideas Returning?Chapter 25 Teacher Burnout: Myth or Reality?Chapter 26 School Safety and Violence: Is There a Solution?Chapter 27 The Middle School: Is it Effective?Chapter 28 Political and Social Activism in the School: What Are the Pros and Cons?Chapter 29 Liberal Arts and Teacher Preparation: Friends or Mortal Enemies?Chapter 30 Science and Mathematics: Where Are They?Chapter 31 Tips for Teachers: How Can You Be an Effective Classroom Teacher?