Switzerland has an area of only a little over 15,900 square miles, a population of about three and one-half millions, but 25 distinct political units--Cantons--each virtually autonomous in the control of its schools. There is no Federal educational board to issue plans, decrees, letters, or special instruction tending to unify the system. Under this freedom of development the schools have assumed their character in accordance with the language, religion, race, industries, and historical traditions that prevail in the several Cantons. The resulting variety in organization and methods makes it impossible to give a general account of the schools equally applicable to all parts of the country; hence, features that may be regarded as fairly typical will be sketched from reports coming from specific localities, as Bern, Basel, or Zurich. The Federal regulations that the Cantons have in common provide for obligatory attendance, free tuition, and, to some extent, free instruction material during a period designated by each Canton, optional attendance at instruction in religion, participation in required gymnastics, uniform entrance examination for students of medicine. The Federal Union also contributes to the support of all primary schools; it prohibits the employment of children of school age in the factories; and, finally, it imposes a uniform educational test on the recruits that each year enroll for service. This bulletin describes the general conditions and characteristics of schools in Switzerland. It is followed by a discussion of the practical trend of the school work and its regard for the pupils' health. (Contains 9 footnotes.) [Best copy available has been provided.]