The idea that education is connected to economic development and that the economy can be strengthened by strengthening education has become a cornerstone of the 1980s educational reform movement. The basic idea linking education and the economy is not new. Americans have invested in education with the expectation that it would yield substantial…

This paper offers criticism of rural education research methods, and identifies areas in need of more or better systematic inquiry. It suggests the need to increase the quantity of the highest quality of research and the need for researchers to reach policy makers and "mainstream" education journals more effectively. Five main problems…

Great changes are occurring in the vast and extremely diverse nonmetropolitan regions of the United States as a result of economic and social shifts taking place. These are not the only issues facing state and local education policy and planning communities. Nationwide focus on the school reform and school excellence movement poses another serious…

The Alaska School Effectiveness Project produced several reports in a series of reviews of research literature on such topics as computer-assisted instruction. Using an ERIC search and conventional library methods, the question raised was "Does computer-assisted instruction (CAI), when combined with traditional instruction, lead to higher…

In light of the Levittown v. Nyquist decision, which found New York State's educational funding method unconstitutional, this report presents the recommendations for increasing New York's educational equity made by a statewide task force. For each of 27 proposals that garnered support from any task force member, the report discusses research…

Sums up the current status of rural education research, offers explanations for the present situation, and argues for two essential steps in developing a rural research and development agenda: adoption of overarching research paradigms to guide future inquiry and consensus concerning the substantive issues to be studied. (JHZ)

This talk addresses the connections between rural life and education research centered on rural places. It's informed by the author's experience of all three realms--life, education, and schooling. The author discusses how rural education consists of meanings related to the rural lifeworld as those issues confront the conventional agenda for…

This paper lays out a rationale for building local rural development policies that focus on potential strengths of school-community relationships, while empowering local citizens. Rural communities and their schools are caught up in trends that complicate policy at all levels. These trends include changes related to national and global economic…

An educational researcher describes and reflects on a qualitative research project she conducted, focusing on her positioning, neutrality, and objectivity throughout the research process and during subsequent data analysis. The research took place in a K-12 school in a remote rural New Zealand community inhabited by Maori, 1970s…

The movement to standardization and high-stakes testing has been driven by ideological and political concerns and has adversely affected teaching/learning, democratic discourse, and educational equity. Rural schools are hit harder because of geographic isolation and insufficient staff and resources. Testing used for purposes other than measuring…

Includes responses to an earlier issue's symposium on computers in the classroom. Bredo focuses on different levels of learning environments. Winn and Coleman discuss urban and rural schools. Cuban contends that introduction of new technologies cannot lead to educational reform without organizational changes. LaFrenz and Friedman emphasize the…

Discusses five common rural impediments to equal access to gifted programs, and focuses on two under educators' control, program funding and student identification practices. Offers three approaches to local standardization of intelligence test norms. 11 references. (SV)

Argues that the gifted student is usually excluded, by definition in federal law, from classification as emotionally disturbed. Outlines areas of conflict that may lead to emotional disturbance in rural gifted students. Suggests positive teacher interventions to create a supportive learning environment and lower student stress. 40 references. (SV)

Discusses the contradictions and value conflicts encountered by gifted girls in rural schools. Suggests teacher and counselor strategies to promote sensitivity to gender bias, build girls' confidence, and provide learning materials and experiences that reflect realistic and relevant roles for both sexes. Includes an 18-item annotated list of…

Analyzes the experiences of a student teacher in a small, rural elementary school in northeastern Ohio. Discusses student teaching and stages of professional developmental growth: uncertainty/nervousness, acceptance/confirmation, autonomy, and affirmation. Addresses implications related to supervision and teacher training programs, specifically in…