This brief explores the link between rural youths' identification with their community, their self-esteem, and their future plans. The panel study of New Hampshire's Coos County youth offers a snapshot into the dynamics of a population that is developing its identity in a region that is undergoing an identity transformation of its own. Place…

One dimension of mathematics learning is developing an identity as a mathematics learner. The social learning theories of Gee (2001) and Wenger (1998) serve as a basis for the discussion of four "faces" of identity: engagement, imagination, alignment, and nature. A study conducted with 54 rural high school students, with half enrolled in a…

The transition to high school has been identified as a potentially difficult time in adolescents' lives. Reductions in both academic and social functioning often accompany this transition. While these effects have been documented in urban youth, the move to high school has not been extensively studied in rural minority youth. Toward that end, the…

A two-wave analysis of the dynamics of occupational expectations in a rural youth panel generally failed to support the hypothesis of 'increasing realism of choice.' (Author)

The primary objective of this study is an analysis of the occupational projections and anticipatory occupational goal deflection of a sample of predominantly rural Louisiana high school seniors. Several findings that contradict previous research are noted. Implications of these results are discussed and suggestions for future empirical inquiry are…

In this paper, criteria involving observation of the activity of agents of influence themselves are proposed and investigated. (Author/NQ)

Questionnaires to determine political influence aspirations were distributed to 292 members of a rural Wisconsin high school junior class. Results indicated that a large proportion of these youth neither wished to nor believed that they could be politically influential at age 25 or even at age 45. (DS)

Focuses on efforts in Connecticut to combat teenage pregnancy. Describes a model program that emphasizes a collaborative venture between a state-funded community-based pregnancy prevention program and a regional vocational-technical high school located in a rural setting. Describes Northeast Connecticut Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and the…

This study examines high school expectancies in a sample of at-risk, rural youth, and how these expectancies relate to 8th grade functioning, 9th grade functioning, and 9th grade experiences of high school. A total of 76 eighth-graders and their parents, drawn from a larger study of the transition to high school, participated in interviews the…

Today's high school students encounter a diversity of complex issues affecting both their family and school relationships. It is necessary for parents, school personnel, and students to understand each other's perspectives. In recent years there has been a change in family patterns, societal expectations, and lifestyles. These changes have had a…

The best predictor for success in Algebra I was found to be the grade in eighth grade math. (KR)

The high school graduates in four rural southeast Missouri high schools generally viewed the Employment Service (E. S.) Counselor's role as on primarily concerned with vocational counseling, but they perceived the E. S. Counselor as a person who should have given more assistance in the personal problem area. (Author)

Juniors (144) in three schools were assigned to four behavioral-reinforcement counseling treatments and controls in individual and small group settings. Findings: (1) All behavioral-reinforcement produced significantly more information-seeking behaviors; (2) No significant differences occurred between small group and dyadic counseling settings;…

Audiometric threshold testing of 872 vocational agriculture students carried out over a three-year period indicates an increased prevalence of hearing loss among students actively involved in farm work. Use of hearing protection may reduce the risk of hearing loss, although few students report using such devices. (Author/BJV)

Drew on Olson's circumplex model to examine role of family process variables in mediating impact of life events on adolescent depression. Findings from 108 high school students and their parents indicated only a direct effect between family life events and depressive symptomatology. (Author/NB)