Includes bibliographical references and index.

Why consider opposing viewpoints? -- Introduction -- ch. 1. What is the state of education in America? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Public education is failing / Tom DeWeese -- 2. Public education is not failing / Mike Rose -- 3. Standardized testing has negatively impacted public schools / Bobbie A. Solley -- 4. Standardized testing is a useful tool within public schools / Linda Crocker -- 5. Ignoring the mandates of Brown v. Board of Education will harm public schools / Theodore M. Shaw and Lee C. Bollinger -- 6. Moving beyond the mandates of Brown v. Board of Education will improve public schools / Juan Williams -- Periodical bibliography -- ch. 2. Are alternatives to public education viable? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Privatizing education would be beneficial / Mark Harrison -- 2. Privatizing education would be harmful / John F. Covaleskie -- 3. Tuition vouchers are a good alternative to failing public education / Richard Fossey -- 4. Tuition vouchers are not a good alternative to current public education / Marcus Egan -- 5. Single-sex schools can improve education / Andrew Mullins -- 6. Single-sex schools will not improve education / Elena -- Periodical bibliography --

ch. 3. Should religious and moral values be taught as part of public education? -- Chapter preface -- 1. Character education should be part of the American school system / Charles C. Haynes and Marvin W. Berkowitz -- 2. Character education is the wrong way to teach values / Bobby Ann Starnes -- 3. Critiques of Darwinian evolution should be taught in science classes / Stephen C. Meyer and John Angus Campbell -- 4. Intelligent design should not be taught in science classes / Craig E. Nelson -- 5. Religion has no place in a liberal arts education except as an object of study / Lucas Carpenter -- 6. A Christian liberal arts education provides a moral education / Guenter E. Salter -- Periodical bibliography -- ch. 4. How should the education system be improved? -- Chapter preface -- 1. "No Child Left Behind" is working and should be reauthorized / George W. Bush -- 2. "No Child Left Behind" has failed and should be abandoned / Richard Rothstein -- 3. Competitive teacher compensation would improve education / Frederick M. Hess -- 4. Teacher compensation based on performance will not improve education / pt. 1. Reg Weaver ; pt. 2. Dave Riegel -- 5. Charter schools improve education / Margaret Spellings -- 6. Decentralized school districts improve public education / Lisa Snell -- Periodical bibliography -- For further discussio -- Organizations to contact -- Bibliography of books -- Index.