THE EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENT OF THE TOTALLY DEAF IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SOCIETY WERE DESCRIBED. DISCUSSED IN DETAIL WERE THE FOLLOWING TOPICS--(1) A DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF DEAF INDIVIDUALS, (2) EDUCATION OF THE DEAF, (3) SIGN LANGUAGE, AND (4) EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH IN LANGUAGE AND CONCEPT FORMATION. THESE DISCUSSIONS SUGGESTED THAT THE PERSONALITY PROBLEMS OF THE DEAF, AS WELL AS THEIR PROBLEMS OF COGNITIVE LIMITATION, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT (BEYOND WHATEVER PROBLEMS MAY EXIST IN THEIR FAMILY LIFE), MAY BE THE RESULTS OF CURRENT LIMITATIONS OF SIGN LANGUAGE AND INADEQUATE METHODS OF DEAF EDUCATION. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THERE IS A NEED FOR (1) MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DEAF POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (2) AN EXAMINATION OF THE REASONS FOR THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF FAILING PHILOSOPHIES OF EDUCATION OF THE DEAF, (3) AN INQUIRY INTO THE ATTITUDES OF THE DEAF TOWARD THE EDUCATION THEY RECEIVE, AND (4) A STUDY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS OF AND FOR THE DEAF AND THE ROLE OF THE DEAF IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS. (AL)