This article reports on a survey of West German elementary and secondary school students undertaken to discover their opinions of the West German educational system. Their primary criticism was directed toward: (1) scholastic performance pressure; (2) unrealistic learning objectives; and (3) unsympathetic teachers. Older students were more critical and tended to dislike attending school. Female students appeared to enjoy attending school more, adapted easier, and formed friendships faster than male students did. Early results from similar surveys taken in Sweden, England, and the United States indicated that German students experience less pleasure in school than students from these other countries. West German students perceived education primarily as a means to prepare for future employment and not, as some U.S. students do, for personal enrichment. Level of completed schooling in West Germany continues to be the primary determinant of professional and social opportunities. Poor grades can lead to stress in the form of headaches, vertigo, nervousness, abdominal pain, insomnia, and conflicts with parents. (JHP)