This document contains the full text of the conference keynote address and abstracts of conference papers. The keynote address--"Excellence in Rural Education: Our Heritage and Our Future," by Duane M. Nielsen--outlines: (1) demographic changes in rural America in the 1970s and 1980s; (2) the challenges facing rural education due to increasing…

The proceedings consist of the entire major addresses of Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, Steve Miller, and Walter Turner, and abbreviated versions of 29 other papers or presentations. The materials deal with a variety of rural-focused topics: women (Evelyn Hausmann); teacher career ladder plans (Paul Burden); inservice (Robert Norton, Myron…

This paper presents the rationale for the development of an elementary teacher training program designed to prepare students to teach in rural areas. The Province of British Columbia (Canada) is a vast geographic region populated by only two and a quarter million people. Most reside in rural communities ranging in population from a few hundred to…

A teacher intern in New South Wales (Australia) describes her experiences as a student in a small rural school, how early experience with distance education and independent learning was beneficial at university, teaching practicums in two rural schools, and her internship in a rural Aboriginal school. (SV)

Recent college graduates (N=162), teaching in schools of 600 or fewer students, rated the importance--to success in teaching--of 45 areas of college studies. Only two areas were rated below the mid-point on the scale of importance. Oral communications, discipline, classroom management, teaching major specialty, and motivating students were rated…

A questionnaire sent to organizations and programs in rural education was designed to identify institutions displaying early school artifacts. Responses were received from 19 of the 30 states surveyed. The study found 11 university or college museums that have a one-room school as part of their collection. In addition, state parks and county…

Rural teachers have few opportunities to learn specific strategies for developing computer literacy among boys and girls in their classrooms. This paper describes an inservice program for rural Kansas teachers that taught skills such as programming, software evaluation, word processing, building a database, and creating lesson plans that involve…

Only nine of 306 public, four-year colleges/universities reported teacher training course(s) devoted solely to study of rural/small schools. Most of the 87 including rural education as part of curriculum did so only as special topic of general course. Only 93 of 306 institutions reported faculty pursuing rural education interests. (NEC)

This paper analyzes current policy and practice relating to the preparation and selection of teachers for rural areas of Australia, and contrasts these to perceptions of rural teachers concerning the adequacy of their preservice preparation. Nine recent Australian national and state reports and policy statements were analyzed. National policy…

Of South Carolina's 91 school districts, 24 are 100% rural. Comprised of small schools, these districts serve a large, sparsely settled geographic area, have a large minority student population, and are staffed by non-minority administrators and teachers. The small number of students and teachers severely limits a school's ability to provide for…

This document provides current and historical information about rural education in Manitoba, Canada. The report's eight sections and the information they provide are as follows: (1) "Background" emphasizes the importance of education to rural residents, and describes the trend toward education for all ages; (2) "Early Education in…

This autobiography relates the early teaching experiences of Kentucky teacher and author Jesse Stuart (1906-1984). Barely 17 years old, he first taught in a one-room, isolated rural school in eastern Kentucky for $60 a month. His 35 barefoot students in the eight grades ranged in age from 5 to 20 years. The students' passion for learning…

A successful teacher induction program developed by Emporia State University and implemented in 20 small rural Kansas school districts uses a seminar format that promotes reflection on teaching practices and collegial interchange. Program structure and participants, seminar purposes and content, and program outcomes are discussed. (SV)

Interviews and observations in over 25 Greek and Turkish schools in rural Cyprus examined educational policy formation, teacher preparation and assignment, class size, teacher salaries and promotion, and student behavior and outcomes. Society's influences on educational conditions and outcomes are discussed with reference to American rural…

Describes 10 award-winning programs at rural and small schools, involving teacher induction and collegiality; improving student writing through word processing; integrating Indian Studies into the curriculum; developing self-esteem through peer teaching; student entrepreneurship; substance abuse prevention; training rural special education…