Although the Shah of Iran should be admired for his efforts to use education to deal with formidable social challenges, his goal of producing a modern state in a single generation was unrealistic. Entrenched traditional values and unpredicted economic changes such as the need in 1977 to slow down Iran's rate of growth in the face of runaway inflation are counteracting his aims. The Shah has now lost much of his credibility as a leader. This may in turn undermine the faith of many Iranians in the western style modernization that the Shah advocated. An explosive situation has been created by reforms that have raised new aspirations and expectations that possibly can be satisfied only through some form of revolution. This conclusion, reached by the author in 1978, is based on an analysis of educational traditions and developments in Iran's history from 549 B.C. to the present. (Author/PGD)