DRAWING ON 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING AND LIVING WITH RETARDED CHILDREN AND ADULTS, THE AUTHOR PRESENTS A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND SOME OF THE METHODS WHICH HE HAS FOUND MOST USEFUL. METHODS AND PRINCIPLES ARE TREATED IN A PRACTICAL AND SPECIFIC MANNER. DEFINITIONS AND THE NATURE OF MENTAL RETARDATION ARE CONSIDERED. THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE PRESENTED--(1) THE NECESSITY FOR SPECIAL TEACHING PROCEDURES, (2) LEARNING PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO THE RETARDED, (3) METHODS, PROCEDURES, AND TECHNIQUES, (4) DEVELOPMENT OF MEMORY FOR ACADEMIC LEARNING, (5) CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE EDUCATION, (6) MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND (7) THE NECESSITY FOR CLASSIFICATIONS. GOALS AND PROCEDURES APPROPRIATE FOR THE CUSTODIAL GROUP, THE TRAINABLE GROUP, THE EDUCABLE GROUP, AND THE BORDERLINE GROUP ARE TREATED SEPARTELY. THE BOOK INCLUDES MANY CASE ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXAMPLES OF TEACHING METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILD. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM VANTAGE PRESS, 120 WEST 31ST STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10001 FOR $5.95. (DF)