ONE OF THE GOALS OF EDUCATION IS HELPING EVERY LEARNER ACHIEVE HIS INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL. IN DIRECTING EFFORT TOWARD THIS GOAL, EDUCATIONAL LEADERS MUST IDENTIFY AND MEET DIVERSE NEEDS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS--(1) THE MATURITY OF THE LEARNER, (2) HIS PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, (3) HIS FAMILY BACKGROUND, (4) HIS PHYSICAL CONDITION, AND (5) INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN ABILITY, INTEREST, APTITUDE, AND ASPIRATION. ENROLLMENT GROWTH IN JUNIOR COLLEGES AND ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, INCREASED EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION OF THE DISADVANTAGED, AND PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE CITED AS TRENDS IN EDUCATION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. CHILDREN FROM HOMES OF POVERTY, MIGRANT CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE PRESENT DIFFERENT KINDS OF EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES TO THE SCHOOLS. THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY IS SEEN AS THE PREVENTION OF FAILURE. THIS REQUIRES LEARNING ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED, FREEDOM FROM RIGID GRADE STANDARDS, AND A CLOSER HOME SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP. THIS SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RURAL EDUCATION AT OKLAHOMA CITY ON OCTOBER 2, 1967. (SF)