Survey responses from 1,000 primary-care physicians (PCPs) in Florida showed that nearly half of rural PCPs were foreign-born. Overall and for native-born PCPs, rural practice was related to rural upbringing and exposure to rural medical practice during training. Rural PCPs were more likely than others to be participants in the National Health…

Judy Schrag, director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), discusses the OSEP grant competition for personnel preparation in rural special education, rural dimensions of OSEP initiatives, and rural-urban differences in problems affecting special education and in approaches to mainstreaming disabled students. (SV)

Surveyed approximately 600 secondary students in rural southeast Nebraska about AIDS knowledge and attitudes. Rural students were considerably more knowledgeable about AIDS transmission and severity than urban students in a similar survey in San Francisco. The overwhelming majority of rural students considered AIDS a serious problem and wanted to…

Discusses the problems and impact of national trends on small towns and how small towns in eastern Washington have adapted to social and economic change. Illustrates how small towns try to address contemporary concerns such as computerization, the environment, and the expanding needs of their communities while continuing to hold on to their…

This exploratory study examined the influence of residential background and gender on university student drinking patterns. A questionnaire was distributed to 255 kinesiology and physical education students. Rural students (n=104) were more likely than urban students (n=151) to drink at outdoor parties or in vehicles during their first experience…

This ERIC digest summarizes recent studies on poverty in rural areas. In 1986, the poverty rate in rural areas was 50 percent higher than the urban rate. During the 1980s, rural poverty stayed higher, rising more rapidly during recession, and falling more slowly in the "recovery" period. Characteristics that distinguish the rural poor…

According to U.S. Census data, in rural Pennsylvania, 37% of adults did not complete higher school, and 21% did not go beyond 8th grade. As a consequence of present demographic and literacy trends, the proportion of the workforce with low levels of basic skills is growing. At the same time, a changing labor market is creating new jobs that demand…

Data from a 1986 modified Delphi survey of adult education professionals in a 13-state region is used to determine what public policies were regarded as important and feasible for providing adequate opportunities for rural adults. The document focuses on 89 proposed policies to determine differences in perceptions among three subregions (Mountain,…

The exploratory investigation was guided by four research questions: (1) what are the similarities and differences in the readiness status between rural and urban first graders; (2) what is the relationship between the readiness status and socioeconomic status of rural and urban first graders; (3) what are the similarities and differences in the…

Recent literature concerning rural youth in the North Central states is reviewed in the text and a 291-item bibliography is included. The scope of the study is the following regions: Lower Great Lakes, Upper Great Lakes, Corn Belt, and Central Plains. Rural population has been declining as farms increase in size, making it more difficult for young…

Defines and explains "mental rehearsal," a method of using imagery to practice teaching behavior before the act of teaching which can improve instruction. Describes its use in relaxation and positive thinking and explains how and when to practice mental rehearsal. (SB)

Medical students that come from rural areas are more likely to return to rural areas to practice, but rural students apply for medical school at half the rate of urban students. Factors that contribute to this problem are the lack of rural representation on medical school selection committees; centralization of medical education facilities in…

Discussion about universal primary education in developing countries emphasizes how it does not meet the needs of rural people. Basic education programs are described which are relevant to rural children's equity, efficiency, and employment needs. (ND)

The access to postsecondary education that is offered to students in rural areas differs significantly from the access available to urban students. An overview is given of the various factors and structural obstacles influencing rural access to postsecondary education, including aspirations, college preparation, socioeconomic characteristics of…

A homophobia questionnaire was administered to 30 rural and 41 urban undergraduate students of social work. Results indicate that 17% of respondents were homophobic; there were no significant differences between groups. Implications for social work practice and education are discussed. (LP)