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Abstract

This article examines the interdependence of colleges and K 12 schools and argues that meaningful educational reform requires sustained collaboration across levels. It begins by noting the renewed national concern over elementary and secondary education following prominent reports and describes the persistent attitudinal barriers that hinder cooperation, including declining public regard for teaching and a pervasive tendency within universities to devalue K 12 work. The article then outlines a series of actions for speech communication professionals, emphasizing strengthened affiliations with schools, improved teacher preparation, expanded research on instructional communication, and active guidance of institutional responses to national educational critiques. Detailed recommendations address curriculum development, joint production of learning materials, specialized programs for talented students, and the adoption of school partnerships modeled on successful university initiatives depicted in the document. The discussion also considers teacher recruitment, the integration of methods and subject matter, and sustained professional development through long term programs rather than brief workshops. The article concludes by calling for changes in university attitudes and commitments to support teachers, enhance communication education, and reinforce the continuity of the educational system.

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