A stratified random sample of 339 rural teachers and 245 urban teachers took the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Purdue Teacher Opinionnaire. Significant differences between the groups occurred on seven subtest scores related to curriculum issues, rapport among teachers, salary, teaching load, moral-ethical self, self-criticism, and social…

This paper analyzes barriers to educational equality in El Salvador, using a multi-layered framework of educational opportunity. To improve educational opportunity and give the most marginalized sectors of society the possibility of changing their life circumstances requires policies that go beyond mere access to formal schooling. The model…

Canadians identify education as key to economic opportunity and advancement, yet rural areas experience teacher shortages, school closings, and extended transportation times. A growing native population in the North needs teachers with cultural and linguistic qualifications. Advantages of rural areas are close communities, good school-community…

Five papers are presented on serving rural gifted students, discussing: advanced academic courses offered through telecommunications; an electronic bulletin board and videotape exchange network; staff development and networking through telecommunications; acceleration strategies in elementary schools; and rural and urban gifted high-school…

Rural families in the 1990s have less to support their children and schools than a decade earlier: rural poverty (particularly among children), single-parent families, and maternal employment have increased whereas education and incomes of young adults have decreased. Although education has increased in importance for jobs, rural schools systems…

Presents an interview with a distinguished scholar and educator from China, discussing the general status and special features in China, notable features of junior high schools, attitudes toward education, the student/teacher relationship, techniques of classroom management, core values taught, the principal's role, differences between rural and…

Examines trends in urban and rural China, 1949-90, for elementary- and secondary-school enrollments, number of teachers, and educational attainment of males and females. Demonstrates that shifts in the political context of educational policy between a socialist egalitarian agenda and a liberal competitive model have carried real consequences for…

Reviews the rural physician shortage and related policy and research needs. Discusses geographic distribution of physicians, quality of rural care, rural recruitment and retention, rural residency training, factors in medical education affecting entry into rural practice, physician productivity and income, reimbursement, federal and state programs…

Describes general trends in the quality of rural education: equivalent rural and urban performance on national standardized tests and high school graduation rates but continuing rural deficits in college attendance and teacher qualifications. Discusses the below-average performance of southern rural schools, factors affecting rural students'…

This paper examines issues in rural education related to aims, curriculum, and finance. It questions the notion that educational restructuring is necessary for the purpose of improving economic competitiveness. Wigginton, a rural educator, proposes that the aims of education should be: (1) to provide a firm grounding in the basic skills; (2) to…

This report examines rural practice in adult literacy programs and estimates the extent and nature of rural illiteracy. Surveys were sent to 3,287 rural literacy programs; more than 700 program directors responded for a return rate of 22 percent. In addition, 150 program directors and key state literacy contacts were interviewed by telephone.…

This paper addresses the relevance of multicultural education in rural areas, particularly rural schools with a majority white population. Multicultural education does not lend itself to a single set of methods nor to a single curriculum. For example, one approach enhances the educational opportunities of members of minority groups, while another…

This report examines the results and conclusions of recent research on small and rural schools, and attempts to frame current debates over educational adequacy and financial equity in Idaho's rural school districts. Section I reports findings of recent research on school size and emphasizes the benefits of (typically rural) small schools. Most…

Out of concern that agencies with the power and ability to provide much-needed research and development resources to help solve rural education problems will likely put their efforts into solving more visible urban problems, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Rural Education Advisory committee met in 1983 to justify the need for…

Cries for reform in teacher education are based on reports of declining student test scores and criticisms that colleges of education fail to teach values held by conservatives and recruit below average students. However, reforms may cause hardships for rural schools because of the historically lower status of rural schools. The recommendations…