During May and June, 1919, the United States Bureau of Education, under the direction of the Commissioner of Education, made a survey of the public-school system of Memphis, Tennessee. This survey included a study of the social and industrial conditions of Memphis, recommendations in regard to the organization, supervision, and financing of the schools, an analysis of the building problem, as well as special studies of the work of the elementary schools and high schools, of civic education, health, science, music, and industrial arts. The complete report of the survey, giving not only a full appraisal of the school system, but also detailed recommendations in regard to organization, curriculum, etc:, is now being published by the Bureau of Education. Such a report is of course essential for the teaching force and administrative officers in the successful carrying out of any changes recommended, but experience has proved that the average layman is not interested in detailed, technical educational reports and will not take the time to read them. On the other hand, it is obviously necessary that the average citizen have an intelligent understanding of school conditions and school problems; since no public-school system can function successfully except as it is founded upon the educated public opinion of the masses of the people. For these reasons the Bureau of Education is publishing not only a detailed, more or less technical, report of the Memphis school survey, but also the present brief abstract of the report for the use of the average citizen who is interested in gaining a general knowledge of the findings of the survey, and whose intelligent interest is such an important factor in the work of the teaching force of the city, the school officers, and the board of education. (Contains 2 footnotes.) [Best copy available has been provided.].