Presents case studies of school-community partnerships in rural schools in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and York, Nebraska. Explores community characteristics that support or block school-community development alliances. Found effective leadership and the small size of the community to be two supportive characteristics. (KS)

A preservice teacher education program takes small teams of preservice teachers and their students into a rural Nebraska community to foster an appreciation of the local community, localize the curriculum, and give future teachers experience in planning and conducting field trips. Experiences from the field trips are shared and expanded upon in…

Describes a teacher-training program designed to give nonrural students the knowledge, background, skills, and attitudes necessary for successful rural teaching and living. Outlines the two-year course of study which emphasizes early field experience and includes topics such as rural demography, personal satisfaction predictors, and alternative…

The teacher education program at Western Montana College helps preservice teachers understand how the local context of the rural school and its community impacts student learning and the teacher's role. Coursework and multiple field experiences help preservice teachers identify their own cultural background and give them experience in teaching…

A study surveyed 19 student teachers placed in rural Saskatchewan communities and their cooperating teachers. Advantages of rural placements were better acquaintance with students and families, high community involvement, supportive atmosphere, opportunities to engage in various activities, fewer discipline problems, and rural lifestyle.…