Reviews DeYoung's book, which depicts the social life of a small rural school and its community, and the particular social, political, and economic circumstances that led to the school's closure. Suggests that the book contains much useful material for those facing a consolidation battle, but that it omits important "instrumental"…

This paper uses data from a survey of K-12 unit schools to fashion a measure of small school sustainability and relate it to variables pertinent to the rural context. Drawing on definitions of sustainable development and sustainable agriculture, this study proposes sustainability as a concept appropriate to schooling in general, and to small rural…

The principal of a small rural high school in Vermont documented the amount of time spent at work over 60 days in 5 categories, including conflict and special education. A literature review revealed that researchers have paid little attention to the principal's role in special education and conflict problems. The study sought to determine how much…

As part of a 3-year school improvement project, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory conducted statewide issues forums in five states to examine the conditions and needs of rural and small schools. Pre-forum teleconferences were held with advisors in each state to generate prioritized lists of rural educational issues. Advisors gave…

In 1982-83, the State of Washington's 299 public school districts (K-12) educated more than 738,000 students; over 70% of these school districts enrolled fewer than 2,000 students and 40% enrolled fewer than 500 students. The small school (fewer than 500 students) graduation rate of 92.6% was 10.6% higher than the statewide average of 82%. Nine…

The mission of this study is to identify reasonable standards for the space requirements of a small high school of under 100 students--perhaps even as small as ten--remote both in distance and social structure from the mainstream of the normal American educational system and to identify, at least conceptually, how such space can be used.…

The small rural school's foremost and largest problem is providing an adequate curriculum for students in a changing world. Often the small district cannot or is not willing to pay the per-pupil cost of curriculum specialists, specialized courses using expensive equipment no more than one period a day, and remodeled rooms to accommodate new…

Four issues of volume 5 of the ERIC/CRESS (Educational Research Information Center/Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools) newsletter are compiled in this publication. The first issue presents a preview of the monograph "Outdoor Education: A Synthesis" which synthesizes and conceptualizes the current knowledge in outdoor education. A…

Documents relating to rural education and small schools are cited in this bibliography. A supplement to 2 previous ERIC/CRESS publications: "Rural Education and Small Schools, A Selected Bibliography" (ED 033 257) and "Rural Education and Small Schools, A Selected Bibliography--Supplement No. 1" (ED 055 695), the present…

Traces decline of one-room schools from 24,000 in 1959 to about 840 today. Reports findings from 1984 survey of 643 surviving one-room schools in Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota, California, and Wyoming. Includes data on enrollments, teacher qualifications and responsibilities, student achievement, and school facilities/equipment. (NEC)

Compares and contrasts first year teaching experiences of a grandmother (1919) and granddaughter (1980) in small, isolated, rural New Mexico schools. Offers suggestions for improving recruitment and retention of rural teachers in areas of salary, housing conditions, school philosophy and morale, student population, and community life. (NEC)

A review of the poet's teaching experience from 1836-1841 on Long Island, New York, includes Whitman's preparation for teaching, teaching conditions, references to teaching in a Whitman short story, comments by one of his students, a description of his teaching and disciplinary methods, and his own reflections on the experience. (MM)

Describes preventative remediation program, developed and implemented by author, for mild emotional/behavioral problems in rural elementary schools which allows students to remain in their regular classroom. Emphasizes consultative team approach utilizing itinerant behavioral specialists, school psychologists, and/or special education teachers,…

Superintendents of 164 Arkansas small school districts predicted the importance of 20 selected academic courses/physical activities by the year 2000. Courses/activities ranked highest for 2000 were computer science, physics, soccer, economics, and composition. Study assumes collective wisdom or bias of superintendents will alter future secondary…

This proceedings contains 18 papers and presentations from the annual conference of the National Rural Education Association. The contents include: (1) "Strategies for Improving Math and Science Achievement in Rural Appalachia" (Hobart Harmon, Roy Blanton); (2) "Reform in One Community: Factors in Establishing a Firm Foundation" (Bernadette…