A principal of a rural Vermont school describes the unexpected incidents that led to his tongue-in-cheek conclusion that certification for rural principals ought to include courses in mechanics, nature, and people. (JM)

This article discusses the principle of synnoetics as defined by Dr. William A. Kritsonis in the "Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning" as it chronicles the teaching career of Rhodena Townsell. Rhodena, an African American female, began her teaching career as an uncertified special education teacher in a small East Texas town.…

Effective library instruction and library services in rural or small schools often depend upon the personalities of and working relationships between library personnel and the school principal. Confrontations between rural- and small-school principals and library specialists generally fall into two categories of precipitating situation: censorship…

Traditional administrator training programs are irrelevant to and grossly inadequate for the work responsibilities found in the school principalship. Preparation programs for the rural principalship should include a partnership between university and school district, an exacting selection process, internship field experience, and individualized…

Discusses several models for administrator development suitable to small rural school districts, particularly one cooperative external degree plan. (SJL)

This position paper examines the important role of the principal in instruction, the importance of community to learning in rural settings, and a model of learning that engages the child and teacher in an experiential mathematical mode. The principal's influence on student achievement is indirect and proceeds from the principal's roles as resource…

Findings from a survey of rural school administrators in Oregon include profiles of three superintendent-principals that practice democratic leadership. Findings contrast with a national study that painted a discouraging picture of rural schooling in which few superintendents had a vision of working with people in collaborative ways. (LP)

Describes changes in school practices in a rural Mexican elementary school, presenting examples of social interactions that illustrate how the changes were constructed and the nature of the underlying cultural compatibility they expressed. Teacher-student relations became characterized by a tacitly recognized acceptance and respect of Mazahua…

In this collection, 32 Alaskan principals, retired principals, assistant principals, and principals-to-be share their experiences as administrators and reflect on their feelings about the nature of the work and about schooling issues in Alaska. Nine of the writings were selected from "Totem Tales," the newsletter of Alaska's Association…

This paper describes a study that consisted of interviews with 38 elementary school principals in 21 Western and Midwestern states. The sample was made up of 27 men and 11 women with an age range of 35 to 64, all of whom worked in small-town schools. The paper describes the various challenges faced by these principals, including academic deficits,…

The success of the Minimbah Aboriginal Preschool in New South Wales (Australia) is evidenced by happy staff and children, low staff turnover, and the later success of Minimbah's children in mainstream schools. Also, parents were frequently present as helpers and were apparently confident in entering the premises, talking with staff members, and…

Sex equity researchers have identified four areas that demand the attention of rural and small school administrators: inadequate textbooks, student gender differences in knowledge/attitudes about women, inadequate student knowledge of and attitudes toward women in society, and messages of lack of status/importance of women found in the hidden…

Rural school districts are experiencing an influx of language minority students. Rural communities generally have little experience with people from other cultures and have fewer resources and bilingual people. At the district level, leaders who view the influx of immigrants in a positive light are more likely to prepare a well thought out plan…