Most Americans view small towns and rural areas as ideal places to grow up and raise a family, yet 1990 census data reveal that most rural areas are losing population, particularly the young. Teenagers who live in rural communities are likely to have important insights into this contradiction. Approximately 5,600 students attending 114 rural high…

The Rural Education Advisory Committee, established in 1990 by the New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, was asked to identify and disseminate information on raising the aspirations and increasing educational opportunities for rural students. An examination of effective rural New York school districts led to identification of…

Sixteen graduates of rural high schools were interviewed and asked to describe specific interactions with adults during their high school days that had significantly affected their thoughts about themselves or their future. Brief discussions examine the reasons that teachers have an impact on rural adolescents, what constitutes a "rural"…

Identification of gifted students among cultural and linguistic minority groups and development of culturally relevant gifted programs have been problematic. In addition, although giftedness can manifest itself in many ways, few gifted programs have been established in nonacademic areas, especially in rural settings. This paper focuses on the…

This ERIC Digest reviews past and present rural educational philosophy, focusing on the views of Wendell Berry, a Kentucky farmer and novelist who in recent years has emerged as a leading American philosopher. The major difference underlying rural and urban living is the relationship of people with nature. Rural living is much more closely related…

The papers selected for this reader represent the broad range of "practice oriented" interests, problems, populations, and interventions found in both rural social work and at the Seventh National Institute. Section 1 contains four papers which deal with program development and community practice, i.e., planning social services in a…

This document reviews problems related to sexual activity among rural U.S. teenagers, successes and failures of teen sex education programs, and problems and needs specific to rural areas. In a recent poll, 89% of adults favored sex education in the schools and 73% supported making birth control information and contraceptives available in school…

The first national study of facilities for isolated Australian children living away from home was undertaken by the Commonwealth Schools Commission in 1981 and released in 1983. This document contains the conclusions, findings, and recommendations of the Commonwealth Schools Commission Working Party report. The results prompted the Commission to…

With much to offer rural girls as well as much to learn from them, Girl Scouting is trying to reach more girls and adults in rural areas. The challenges include economic setbacks for farming, unemployment, isolated populations, and changing rural culture. Along with the challenges are the many resources of rural areas and the congruence between…

This document includes articles on programs for the gifted in urban and rural areas. Jean Blanning writes a personalized case-oriented record of an independent studies program offered in an urban high school (in New Haven, Connecticut) serving large numbers of minority children. This section gives testimony to the effectiveness of dedicated…

The contemporary rural population, comprising one-quarter of the nation's total, is diverse. Hence, no single label can be applied to its inhabitants, its families, or its children. This collection of articles, highlighted with drawings by five year old rural residents, describes adaptations to modern American life made by three types of rural…

THE RURAL POPULATION IS RAPIDLY MOVING INTO THE CITIES IN SEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, BUT MANY OF THESE RURAL MIGRANTS ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT DUE TO A LACK OF EDUCATION. TO COMBAT THIS SITUATION, SCHOOLS SHOULD OFFER MORE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. FOUR PREMISES THAT ARE VITAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ARE--(1) IT COSTS LESS…

A review of literature and research on rural education in England indicated declining enrollments coupled with severe government restraints on public expenditures are impacting upon the maintenance and orientation of rural English schools. Investigation of research on the education of girls with specific reference to academic achievement and work…

Based on a survey of seventeen Kentucky industries which revealed common problems of the rural worker, this project attempted (1) to design and field test a vocational development program that will increase the knowledge base concerning the economics of industry in the rural vocational student and (2) to design and field test a curriculum…

REAL Enterprises, Inc. (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) is an academic program that helps students learn the basics of starting and nurturing a new business. West Virginia is 1 of 17 states offering the program with the goal of preparing youth to take advantage of economic opportunities in their own communities. (LP)