Alcohol and drug use among youth has been of increased concern to educators, politicians, parents, and students in the past few years. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and use of alcohol and drugs in the rural region of northern Idaho and eastern Washington state. A questionnaire was designed to collect demographic…

A study of 198 students and 43 educators examined computer attitudes and knowledge in rural settings. Educators and students had positive attitudes toward computers. Educators demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels than students. Over half of the students and about one-third of the educators indicated having a computer at home. (JHZ)

Test responses of students in grades six and 11 were examined to determine the relationship between school size and learning in the affective domain, i.e., character, cooperation, and attitudes toward school, communication, and change. Results indicated that students in smaller schools have more positive attitudes toward their schools and…

The four-day school week is a Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday alternative to the traditional four-day week, which can be implemented with many variables and differing objectives. The four-day week saves heating, transportation, maintenance, electricity and some instructional costs, while providing better educational opportunities and use of…

Reports results of a study assessing reading maturity among 188 college-bound students in seven small rural schools and compares results to surveys of seventh graders and college freshmen. Describes the 15-minute reading survey completed by the students and lists 15 ways to develop reading maturity in small rural schools. (JHZ)

This study examined the relationship of self-concept to intelligence, anxiety, and academic persistence and achievement among young adolescents in a rural school division in Saskatchewan. Eighty-five students in grades 7 and 8 were administered the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, Sarason's Test Anxiety Scale, Sarason's General Anxiety…

In multigrade instruction, children of at least a 2-year grade span and diverse ability levels are grouped in a single classroom and share experiences involving intellectual, academic, and social skills. "The Multigrade Classroom" is a seven-book series that provides an overview of current research on multigrade instruction, identifies…

Academic and social performance of 204 high school students who had attended one-teacher rural elementary schools in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana was investigated to determine if small school students were disadvantaged in a larger high school setting. Data gathered by questionnaires from students, school administrators, and counselors…

A teacher's guide to developing global perspectives about nuclear arms control among proactive action students in rural schools oulines the historical development of the current nuclear situation, describes a nuclear age curriculum, explains the importance of proactive and global perspectives, covers simulated situations, and provides a glossary…

Community-related activities, such as interviewing long-time residents, checking primary sources, identifying and mapping historical sites, studying local artists and craftspeople, writing a community profile, using different media, and organizing a school/community week can help establish greater relevance and meaning for rural students. (MH)

This study examined student attitudes and behaviors regarding campus safety at a large rural university. A 31-item instrument was developed, and a panel of eight expert judges reviewed the survey items. A total of 16 residence halls participated in the study, and 970 surveys were distributed with 529 returns. A principal components analysis…

A small rural high school initiated an 8-period day to offer students the increased number of credits required for graduation. Elective offerings, elective enrollments, and participation in extracurricular activities increased. Teachers and students liked shorter classes, grades improved, dropout rates declined, and teacher-pupil ratios dropped in…

Promotion rate differences in Brazilian rural and urban primary schools prompted an investigation of educational problems in rural areas. Four case studies were conducted in lower (1st through 4th grade) and upper (5th through 8th grade) rural primary schools in three regions of Espirito Santo State which have different cultures, languages, and…

This booklet surveys the possibilities in instituting a 4-day school week, an approach which has gained favor in some small school districts. The history of the 4-day week and its characteristics are first described. Drawing on case studies of districts that have begun the 4-day schedule, the authors enumerate the steps in proposing and…

Since this is an age of international interdependence and even those growing up in small rural communities are not insulated against spill-over effects of global events, rural students should be exposed to world affairs and prepared for citizenship in the global community. Resources for organizing instructional activities to affect the global…