Schools are essential to the development of young people's talents, of values appropriate to the particular society, and of skills for future professional activities. Schools may also motivate juveniles and help eliminate factors which contribute to individual problem situations. However, poor school performance and dislike of school can increase students' feelings of inadequacy and lead to internalized failure. Schools may contribute to juveniles' socialization problems, and labeling of juveniles in interaction with classmates may increase their feelings of alienation. The chief responsibility for identifying behavioral problems falls to the teacher. The school social worker must cooperate with teachers in helping students with social and personality problems and in improving the functioning of problem students by eliminating behavior which leads to labeling. Prevention may be primary, i.e., directed at prevention of juvenile deviant behavior and offenses, or secondary, i.e., identification and diagnosis of students with problems. As criminological research has established the association of delinquency in adults with earlier experiences in school, identification and treatment of students with behavioral difficulties must be considered a priority. School social work is a vital element in crime prevention programs. A bibliography of 13 references is supplied. -- in Afrikaans.