Presented are proceedings from a 3-day study institute (1971) to provide teachers of mentally handicapped (MH) students, health profession personnel, and physical education teachers in Schenectady with resource information for implementation of New York state's mandate to provide health education for all children. Included are the program schedule and a review of institute purposes which stresses the need to cope with increasing drug abuse. The following presentations are discussed: the role of the community resources in health education and reeducation; broad aspects of health education for MH students; and an outline to health education for MH children in elementary and secondary schools which includes components such as physical fitness, testing, and program content. Also given are guidelines for teaching physical fitness to MH children; a discussion on the role of the nurse-special teacher in health which involves aspects such as cooperating with parents and medical professionals to meet MH children's needs; guidelines for teaching concepts of nutrition and consideration of effects of poor nutrition on mental retardation and on the productivity of children; and contributions of home economics educators such as use of the Future Homemakers of America to enrich classroom learning. Included are comments from discussion periods, representative sample evaluation forms, reactions to each session, and comprehensive evaluation which indicates favorable responses to aspects such as content, organization, and practicability for classroom instruction. (MC)