This paper is the third in a series exploring the impact of changing proportions of youth in our society. It describes an empirical test of the assertion that there is delay between population changes and societal response, even when those population changes are known in advance. For this study the social institution of schools was examined. Hypotheses were proposed based on the theory of demographic discontinuity (see SO 013 568); data used were teacher pupil ratios and personal consumption expenditures for the period 1929-30 to 1975-76. It was found that there is indeed a delay in society's response to rapid changes in the youth population, but that ultimately society does accommodate. The data are more supportive of the assertion as it relates to the number of youth than to youth as a percent of the total population. However, there were only two abrupt, major reversals in the size of the youth population during the period studied. Within that limitation, the assertion is supported reasonably well. (Author/AV)