AN EXTENSIVE FIELD TRIP MADE IN 1963 PROVIDED THE MATERIAL FOR AN ACCOUNT OF EDUCATION FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY GRADES IN FRANCE, SWITZERLAND, NORWAY, SPAIN, ITALY, DENMARK, SWEDEN, GERMANY, SCOTLAND, AND ENGLAND. MAJOR FEATURES, INCLUDING HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, CURRICULA, SCHOOL SCHEDULES, LENGTH OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION, TEACHING METHODS, AND TEACHER TRAINING, ARE GIVEN. A NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE MODEL SCHOOLS AND TEACHER TRAINING CENTERS ARE DESCRIBED, INCLUDING LA MAISON DES PETITS (GENEVA), THE OPEN AIR GIACOMO LEOPARDI SCHOOL (ROME), THE MONTESSORI METHOD CASA DEI BAMBINI (ROME), THE INTERNATIONAL PESTALOZZI CHILDREN'S VILLAGE (SUSSEX, ENGLAND), AND THE FROEBEL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE (ROEHAMPTON, ENGLAND). PROVISIONS FOR THE TEACHING OF READING, WRITING, LANGUAGE, AND MATHEMATICS ARE DETAILED, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION ARE OUTLINED. DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS INCLUDE EDUCATING THE CHILD FOR THE REALIZATION OF HIS HIGHEST POTENTIAL WITHIN THE ACCEPTED VALUE SYSTEM OF THE LARGER SOCIETY, A CENTRALIZED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, A HIGHLY TRAINED AND CULTURALLY SOPHISTICATED TEACHING STAFF, EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES BOTH IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND IN THE TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, AND A COMPARATIVELY HIGH DEGREE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND FAMILY IN THE TOTAL PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION. (JK)