ADOLESCENCE IS CHARACTERIZED AS A PERIOD OF BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS THE SAME FOR ALL RACES, A MORATORIUM PERIOD BETWEEN CHILDHOOD AND ADULT ROLES, AND A PERIOD DURING WHICH A YOUTH ACQUIRES AN IDENTITY. ADOLESCENTS CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE SUBGROUPS. FIRST ARE THE MAINTAINERS OF SOCIETY GROUP WHO ARE CHARACTERIZED BY RESPONSIBILITY, AUTONOMY, AND INDIVIDUALISM WHICH IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH WORK. SECONDLY, THE MARGINAL GROUP IS CHARACTERIZED BY THOSE WHO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. FINALLY, THE UNCOMMITTED GROUP CONSISTS OF YOUTH WITH AVERAGE OR SUPERIOR ABILITY WHO DO NOT ACHIEVE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE TASKS OF GROWING UP. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE MARGINAL GROUP CALLS FOR REMEDIAL WORK AND UTILIZATION OF WORK EXPERIENCES. PROGRAMS FOR THE UNCOMMITTED YOUTH FOCUS ON BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL FIDELITY THROUGH ACTIVITIES WHICH PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE TO SOCIETY. FOR THE MAINTAINERS, A HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM IS DESIRABLE WHICH HELPS YOUTH MAKE A RATIONAL, OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MODERN SOCIETY AND BUILDS FAITH IN THE PERFECTIBILITY OF HUMAN SOCIETY. SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR OR AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND EDUCATIONALLY MALADJUSTED ADOLESCENTS NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED THROUGH SYSTEMATIC EXPERIMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A VARIETY OF PROCEDURES. REACTIONS TO THE PRESENTATION ARE GIVEN. THIS SPEECH WAS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE ON YOUTH (MERIDEN, CONN., APRIL 26-27, 1966). (JH)