Seven papers from a 1978 conference focus on the use of punishment in special education programs for emotionally disturbed students. In "The Legal Status of the Use of Corporal Punishment and Other Aversive Procedures in Schools," F. Wood and K. Lakin review laws, regulations, and court decisions that bear on the legality of the use of corporal punishment and aversive procedures with children and youth. A shorter paper by Wood considers "The Influence of Public Opinion and Social Custom on the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools." Research on the applications of aversive procedures are presented in two subsequent papers--"Theory and Research on the Use of Aversive Procedures in the Education of Moderately Behaviorally Disordered and Emotionally Disturbed Children and Youth" (R. Rutherford) and "Research Findings Regarding the Use of Punishment Procedures with Severely Behaviorally Disordered Children" (R. Neel). S. Forness considers "Developmental Programming for the Use of Aversive Procedures in a Hospital School." In "Punishment and Educational Programs for Behaviorally Disordered and Emotionally Disturbed Children and Youth--A Personal Perspective," F. Hewett reviews the use of punishment and discusses a number of deterrents and alternatives to punishment in classrooms. A final paper by F. Wood is titled "Punishment and Special Education--Some Concluding Comments." (SB)