When asked to address the challenges faced by teacher education in an increasingly global society, the author answers only from her place-based perspective: she teaches in a Southern, conservative, primarily rural state where Whites outnumber Blacks two to one and where nearly 20% of the population falls below the poverty line. Although there are…

As a Family and Consumer Science educator at Union City High School in Union City, Pennsylvania, I have heard and seen a great deal. I have been teaching for 24 years at this rural Pennsylvania Middle/High School where teen pregnancy has always been a problem. Teaching students abstinence as the only method of birth control has been a major…

Offers reflections on the joys and sorrows of teaching English in a rural school. (RL)

This paper highlights a panel discussion dealing with different perceptions of disability and how these perceptions are influenced by the experience of living with, working with, and teaching children with handicaps. One panel participant, a Native American, discusses her experience in accepting and loving her handicapped daughter. She counsels…

Placement of field experience students (FES) in rural schools develops human relations skills and positive attitudes. FES may assist rural educators by doing paper work, providing individual tutoring, and working with small groups and on individualized projects. However, success of these placements depends on the active involvement of university…

Outcome-based education (OBE) and authentic assessment have the potential to greatly improve teacher and counselor preparation programs in rural higher education institutions, but require paradigm shifts, especially at the faculty and administration level, for successful implementation. Characteristics and advantages of OBE and authentic…

Telecommunications networks were placed in 16 rural high school library media centers in 12 southside Virginia counties. With these units, the high school media centers are able to access the online public access catalog at Longwood College, the Lancaster Library's VTLS (Virginia Tech Library System) database. If a needed book is found, a request…

This paper describes how a vice principal at a rural Kentucky elementary school successfully implemented curriculum changes to meet the learning needs of young children. The change process also addressed the concerns of kindergarten teachers frustrated with the demands of teaching basal reader activities that eliminated explorative play and other…

A beginning teacher appointed to a remote Aboriginal school in the Northern Territory (Australia) describes experiences that led him to question his worth as a teacher, including social and professional isolation, his idealistic expectations of becoming a teacher, and difficulties in teaching students of various ages and academic levels. (LP)

Presents an interview with Kati Haycock, Director of the Education Trust, discussing: challenges to developing high quality staff development in schools serving low-income, minority students; teacher turnover; rural poverty; content-oriented staff development; learning from colleagues; making time for staff learning; willingness to change and…

As many as 40 percent of America's school-aged children are at-risk of failure within the current educational system. Many factors outside of school, such as poverty and debilitating parent and family influences, contribute to student failure. Within the school, the most effective factor of intervention for at-risk students is the individual…

1996 National Teacher of the Year--a high school teacher from rural Minnesota--reflects on the 30 years of her career and on social changes that have necessitated that her community and local schools work toward cultural understanding. The community went from a mostly white, middle-class, conservative community to one with at least six different…

Describes a project that was developed to determine the potential of computer-based instruction for meeting the needs of elementary students in small, rural school settings. Highlights include computer-managed instruction; the importance of local context, including administration, parents, and staff; and the impact on student achievement, school…

Visits to 25 small rural school districts in 21 states revealed three prevailing myths about equal education held by teachers and administrators: (1) some children can't learn; (2) providing the same education to all students is providing equal education; and (3) "we have no problems" in providing equal educational opportunities.…

For educational delivery systems to meet the needs of special rural populations of minority children, teaching and learning strategies must take into account the three factors of human identity, culture, and ruralness itself. Children who are members of special populations often have an even greater need than most children for recognition,…