The first of two broadcasts examining the US educational system with Charles Kuralt (CBS), Brownsville (Virginia) Elementary Principal Anne Norford, Louisville (Kentucky) Price Elementary Principal Carletta Bell, Dr. Ernest Boyer, teacher Dianna Drake, teacher Sue Metzger, teacher Val Cole, teacher Dan Bisaccio, student Stephanie White, Professor Theodore Sizer, Thayer Principal Dennis Littky, teacher Bob Lewis, teacher Deborah Ball, teacher Karen Reed, Toledo (Ohio) teachers' union president Dow Lawrence, National Education Association President Keith Geiger, American Federation of Teachers President Albert Shanker, teacher Lee Meck, teacher Mary Ann Baynor, radio talk show host Cliff Kelly, Chicago (Illinois) school board member Joan Slay, parent Diana Arnold, parent Edna Simmons, Professor J.S. Fuerst, teacher Bill Scott, Designs for Change Executive Director Don Moore, NYC schools Chancellor Joseph Fernandez, Frank Petruziello of Dade County (Florida) school system, school principal Nora Brandt, Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Alan Fleischman, Melinda Brown, Carolyn Zarembra of Cleveland (Ohio) MetroHealth Medical Center, Family Focus Director Gilda Ferguson Smith, Denise Davis, Family Focus founder Bernice Weissboard, Glenda Sheard, Helena (AK) Home Instruction for Preschool Youngsters Coordinator Loistene Burrell, AK Governor Bill Clinton, Lee Iacocca, Swift Textiles Education Coordinator Chuck Fessenden, Harley-Davidson Chairman Vaughn Beals, Milwaukee (WI) public schools Superintendent Robert Peterkin, South Division High School Principal John Hays, student Brian Morton, Harley-Davidson instructor Chris Dwyer, teacher John Taylor, teacher Clarence Clark, Clarke Street School Principal Diane Neicherel, child development specialist Sue Bredekamp, assessment expert Grant Wiggins, teacher Jan Bergamini, Susan Bennett of the California Assessment Program, teacher Shawn Donahoe, Dmitrio Rodriguez, Rock Castle County (Kentucky) School Superintendent Bodge Towery, Kentucky Education Secretary Jack Foster, Kentucky Governor Wallace Wilkinson, New Jersey Governor Jim Florio, Texas Governor Bill Clements, and unidentified others; for part two see the record entitled "America's Toughest Assignment: A National Forum".