This article defines historical and contemporary rural schools, outlines three sociological and political economy perspectives essential for understanding why school consolidation and rural school reform are abiding themes in rural America, and examines the political and economic context of a vigorous new school consolidation program in West…

Reviews a book about the history of a small rural school in Braxton County, West Virginia. Argues that consolidation and eventual closure of this school resulted from political, economic, social, and cultural forces that failed to recognize the important relationship between the school and the community. Reflects on the reviewer's own previous…

Under the auspices of the Instructional Programs Branch of the U.S. Office of Education, a 3-day conference was held May 21-23, 1962, on "Teaching Children and Youth Who Are Educationally Disadvantaged." The conference brought together from all over the Nation acknowledged leaders of public school programs expressly designed to realize…