THE ROLE OF THE LISE (SECONDARY SCHOOL) IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNIZATION OF TURKEY WAS STUDIED. THE STUDY INCLUDED PATTERNS OF STUDENT RECRUITMENT, LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATIONS, MOBILITY AND THE OCCUPATION STRUCTURE, AND STUDENT VALUES. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO 6,000 STUDENTS. FOUR CATEGORIES OF SCHOOLS WERE SELECTED--PUBLIC, PRIVATE TURKISH, FOREIGN-OPERATED, AND MINORITY LISES. TURKISH STUDENTS WERE (1) GENERALLY SECULAR IN ATTITUDES TOWARD RELIGION, (2) OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE, (3) ASPIRING AND MINDFUL OF THEIR ROLE IN BUILDING A NEW SOCIETY, AND (4) RELATIVELY "MOBILE." THE LISE WAS VIEWED AS A MAJOR AVENUE FOR HIGHER STATUS. HOWEVER, IT PERPETUATES THE GAP BETWEEN THE SMALL EDUCATED ELITE AND THE UNEDUCATED POPULACE. (RS)