SPANISH AMERICAN RURAL YOUTH ARE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED BY A COMPLEXITY OF PROBLEMS, SUCH AS GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION, CULTURAL FACTORS, LOCAL ECONOMIC DEPRESSION, AND OUT-MIGRATION TO CITIES. ECONOMIC LIMITATIONS COMBINED WITH THE ISOLATION OF THESE PEOPLE TEND TO PERPETUATE HEALTH PROBLEMS. USUALLY, MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE, AND WHERE THEY ARE, IN MANY CASES THE PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THEM. MANY OF THESE YOUNGSTERS BECOME SCHOOL DROPOUTS, AND, CONSEQUENTLY, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ARE VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT, ARE LIMITED EVEN FURTHER. RURAL SCHOOLS, FOR THE MOST PART, HAVE FAILED TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS WHICH ADEQUATELY PREPARE THESE YOUTH FOR THEIR RELATION TO THE GREATER AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT. CONSOLIDATED RURAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE CONCEPT OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND DEVELOP CURRICULA WHICH WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF SPANISH AMERICAN RURAL YOUTH. THIS SPEECH WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON RURAL YOUTH, OCTOBER 23-26, 1968, WASHINGTON, D. C., SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE U. S. DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, INTERIOR, AND LABOR, OEO, AND THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON YOUTH OPPORTUNITY. (ES)