RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE GREATER EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES THAN URBAN SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY MUST ATTEMPT TO PREPARE YOUTH EITHER FOR RURAL OCCUPATIONS, IF THEY REMAIN IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY, OR FOR URBAN OCCUPATIONS, IF THEY MIGRATE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT RURAL SCHOOLS ARE FAILING TO DO THIS, AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR HIGH DROPOUT RATE, LACK OF GUIDANCE OPPORTUNITIES, AND INADEQUATE CURRICULUM. TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SMALL SCHOOL AND TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF RURAL YOUTH, SCHOOL REDISTRICTING SHOULD BE ACCELERATED, NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED, RURAL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS BETTER PREPARED, AND MORE RESEARCH CONDUCTED. OTHER SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE--REVISION OF STATE AID FORMULAS, CREATION OF INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EXPANSION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, AND UTILIZATION OF LOCAL RESOURCES IN TEACHING METHODOLOGY. DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE, YOUNG PEOPLE MUST BE TAUGHT TO GENERALIZE TODAY SO THAT IN THE FUTURE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DISCOVER THE FACTS THEY WILL NEED TO KNOW TO SUCCEED. WE MUST REDEFINE OUR PRIORITIES AND DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE. THIS SPEECH WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON RURAL YOUTH, OCTOBER 23-26, 1967, 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. (JS)