There can be no doubt that mental deficiency is one of most serious social problems of our day. The stresses of economic conditions today confirm well-known facts regarding both menace and burden of this class of citizens. Even under favorable environmental conditions, social adjustment and economic success of men tally subnormal are, at best, precarious. In times of social crises these marginal members of society are first to succumb. It is unnecessary to recite many ways in which mentally sub normal menace our social structure. Many scientific studies have amply justified extensive experiences of all social welfare workers regard ing problems of dependency, delinquency, and illiteracy in this class of our fellows. It is no longer necessary to inform public in these directions. What is more important is to promote practical programs for dealing with situation in a constructive manner. The feeble-minded are human beings. They are citizens. In France they are still termed the children of good God. They are our neighbors even though their immediate neighborhood may be a few blocks removed from our own. They do humble work of society as servants in our homes, as operators in our factories, as laborers in construction, and as menials in many enterprises. Who shall say they are not worthy of their hire? Who shall deny them that small measure of protection without which their social liabilities exceed their social assets but which, when provided, holds them safe from undertow of social degradation? In dealing with social menace and economic burden of feeble minded, it has been customary to emphasize self-protective measures which will safeguard normal members of community. In White House Conference of 1930, subcommittee on mentally handicapped shifted emphasis from liabilities to assets and concen trated on development of potential strength as well as safeguard ing against overt weakness. There is an educational maxim of sound standing which says, One way to offset a deficiency is to develop a compensating proficiency. Our program for social control and oc cupational adjustment of feeble-minded must supplement protective measures with more constructive devices. We must develop limited abilities of mentally subnormal to such a degree that their deficiencies will be supplanted by capabilities. 36