The document comprises two articles which examine the use of teacher aides and paraprofessional personnel in schools in Western Europe and the United States. The first article is presented in four chapters. Chapter I presents a rationale for using teacher aids in schools in northwestern Europe. Teacher aides are favored because they counteract teacher shortages, relieve teachers of house keeping chores, and offer individual attention to students. Chapter II describes pilot projects using teacher assistants in Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Scotland. Chapter III offers case studies of three primary schools in England and describes guidelines for training teacher aides in England and Wales. Chapter IV reviews problems and advantages of using paraprofessional school personnel. The second article explores use of educational paraprofessionals in schools in the United States. Topics discussed include historical background; present situation; activities of paraprofessionals; recruitment, employment, and training; pupil learning in situations where teacher aids are used; teacher-paraprofessional interaction; career opportunities; and issues related to employment of paraprofessionals in schools. (DB)