The purpose of this study was to investigate secondary instrumental music education in rural Mississippi. This descriptive study investigated the experiences, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions that rural instrumental music educators ("N" = 58) held about their schools, students, and communities. Furthermore, we examined how…

A survey of 216 special education teachers examined whether previously identified effective teaching practices for mildly handicapped students were being implemented in special education classrooms in rural Mississippi. Results indicate a high level of acceptance and implementation of best practices. Length of teaching experience was related to…

This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to investigate negative teacher attitudes toward staff development as mandated by the Mississippi Educational Reform Act of 1982. The East Mississippi Center for Educational Development is a consortium of 16 rural school districts and the Meridian Branch of Mississippi State University. The…

This paper describes efforts to improve education in a poor rural Mississippi school district that failed to meet minimum state educational standards. Part of the Mississippi Delta, the county school district is rural and agricultural, contains no large towns or cities, and is characterized by declining population and pervasive poverty. African…

Career education needs improvement at all educational levels in Mississippi according to summarized results of a 1976 survey of students and faculty in public schools and in schools for the blind, deaf, and crippled students. Among sixth grade students, 64% feel their parents can best advise them regarding a career, while 49% of twelfth grade…