Compares perceptions of 12 students working toward dual certification in elementary education and rural special education and 120 students with traditional education majors. Finds that dual certification students had the most positive attitudes toward rural teaching and living, but held unrealistically high opinions of own competencies. Contains…

Reviews the research literature on continuing professional education for teachers and administrators in rural areas. Discusses conceptual contradictions in rural writings, describes research needs for rural staff development, suggests appropriate methodology for rural school studies, and calls for a national research agenda for rural education.…

Reports on structured interviews with 24 teachers in 4 rural secondary schools concerning their level of satisfaction with teaching in rural schools, advantages and problems of rural schools and communities, factors helping or hindering better teaching, teacher role in curriculum development, and teacher extracurricular activities and outside…

Examines 3 stabilizing principles of small town organization that are intertwined with the survival of local schools: (1) centripetalism (inwardly focused community involvement); (2) inclusiveness of local associations and activities; and (3) distinctive identity. Discusses the effects of state pro-consolidation policies on rural economic…

Describes a model of relative ruralness for rural states. Applies model to North Dakota, generating descriptions of principals (age, sex, teachers supervised, salary, contract time, experience, expectations, etc.) and districts (enrollment, assessed valuation, total mills levied, per pupil costs, accredidation levels). Compares principals and…

Explores secondary economic effects of rural Minnesota school districts, including purchasing power of payrolls, employment, retail stimulus, recapture of taxes, property values, and banking services. Provides nontechnical approach to interpreting how school operations offset costs of rural education. Study can be replicated by rural educators.…

Reviews current trends in the restructuring of rural economies and labor markets. Outlines metro-nonmetro differences in earnings and production sector job growth, by years of school completed. Discusses rural and community development solutions to local economic problems and the role of education in such development. Contains 15 references. (SV)

In many states renewed attempts at school reorganization may be the sole policy response to solving the rural school improvement issue. Reorganization should be resisted because benefits of reorganization are mixed, good rural schools have many strengths, and the demise of rural schools will damage the infrastructure of rural America. (JHZ)