A national seminar brought together a large group of architects, teachers, and administrators who have had experience with open plan schools. The participants agreed that the open plan school system with its flexible physical arrangement and flexible teaching program holds great promise as a way of training people to think for themselves. An architect traced the history of open plan schools from the early day one-room schoolhouse to the sophisticated educational complexes of today. The seminar participants discussed both the intangible aspects of an open environment, such as individualized instruction, team teaching, student grouping, and the new role of the school administrator, and the tangible aspects of the school building and its furnishings. They emphasized that open schools are only one part of a quality education program and that the attitudes of teachers, administrators, and students must be consistent with the open nature of the physical facilities at such a school. (JY)