What's missing from the national agenda for school reform? Teacher professionalism and local initiative

The author argues that the many recent reports on schools signify a renewed emphasis on social Darwinism. In noting that the reports are numerous and calls for reform vehement, Noblit suggests that the emerging agenda is neither starting nor new. By characterizing this reform agenda as both inappropriate and impotent, Noblit argues that the concepts of quality and excellence are misconceived, as are the means and actors needed to create excellence. Noblit concludes by developing an alternative reform agenda based on teacher professionalism and local initiative.This article is a revised version of a paper prepared for the American Educational Studies Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, November 1985.