In this paper delivered at Georgetown University, the Minister of Culture of Rheinland-Pfalz compares various aspects of the state of education in the United States and Germany, and draws conclusions for future planning. The areas he discusses are: (1) the politics of education, including controversy over federal and state responsibilities for organization and funding, (2) the importance of governmental and private subsidy, (3) the comprehensive high school versus specialized and private schools, (4) student attitudes, (5) educational priorities, (6) curriculums and student freedom for course planning, (7) student-faculty ratios, (8) teacher training, and (9) problems at the university level, including faculty-student cooperation and student unrest. The paper concludes with a call for greater international cooperation in educational planning. (RS)