GRADE REPETITION, PARTICULARLY IN THE EARLY GRADES, NOT ONLY FAILS TO HELP THE MAJORITY OF PUPILS ACADEMICALLY, BUT IN MANY CASES, CREATES ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. FACTORS INVOLVED IN A STUDENT'S FAILURE VARY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL. THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF GRADE REPETITION ARE THAT THE STUDENT IS OLDER AND LARGER THAN HIS CLASSMATES, AND THAT HIS ABILITY, INCLUDING HIS LEARNING RATE, IS GENERALLY BELOW THE CLASS AVERAGE. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE REVEALED DEFINITE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL RETARDATION AND DELINQUENCY. FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED A POOR FAMILY LIFE, SCHOOL FAILURE MAY PROVOKE RESENTMENT. YET IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS IN THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ARBITRARY MINIMUM STANDARDS MUST BE SET FOR SOME SKILLS TO PROTECT LIFE OR TO MEET SPECIFIC CAREER DEMANDS.