Papers from the meetings of the Rural Sociology Section of the Association of Southern Agricultural Workers held in Atlanta, Georgia (February 1973) are presented in this volume. Papers are arranged in the order in which they were given. Major topics include demography, human resources, youth, family, community and community development, rural…

The early career experiences of a group of young people from a sparsely populated out-migration area of Michigan were studied. In 1957, all the juniors and seniors enrolled in the county's 6 school districts responded to questionnaires which sought to explore several aspects of their situations near the end of high school. Factors examined…

Information on the rural disadvantaged children presented in this book was gathered by observation and through interviews with 3 groups of people. These groups include the migrant workers on the eastern coast, the sharecroppers and tenant farmers who live in the Old South, and the mountaineers of Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and North…

By the late 1960s, rural youth seemed to have become very similar to urban youth in their value orientations, aspirations, and behavioral patterns. As a result of the changing moral standards, alternative family forms, and new forms of community life, youth need help in selecting among the various alternatives. Therefore, one of the most important…

Describes how children in rural Venezuela are trained in agricultural skills by the extended family. The highly organized training encourages play and exploration as important elements in familiarzing children with implements and methods of food production. It is suggested that rural school planners draw ideas from the rural family's educative…

Discusses how one rural community began an alternative school after concern mounted over the dropout rate in this conventional district's high schools. (DN)

An experimental procedure to increase children's rate of hand-raising is reported. The procedure was tired with 240 grade school children and is held to be effective. (DM)

This study examined the effectiveness of pattern drill relative to (a) the reduction of phonological and grammatical variations from the standard South Midland dialect, and (b) the promotion of reading ability. (CK)

Results of comparison study, using Reiss items subjected to Guttman analysis for measurement of dependent variable, indicate replication of other studies where degree of affection was major factor in acceptance of advanced sexual activity. No overall Negro-white predisposition existed regarding promiscuity. Several racial-cultural factors which…

Presents an overview of the educational needs, problems, and aspirations of the second largest and fastest growing nonmetropolitan minority group in the United States. Condensed from "The Education of Nonmetro Hispanics," Rural Development Research Report Number 31 of the USDA Economic Research Service (September 1981). (Editor/SJL)

The unique characteristics of South Dakota rural youth represent a fit between behavior and environment -- physical, social, and cultural. The major exception to this fit is the formal education planned for them. Efforts must be directed toward revitalizing and making the educational opportunities of rural youth relevant. (Author/CM)

Describes a study designed (1) to develop a parent behavior instrument suitable to the study of rural parents; (2) to study the stability of the behavior of rural parents over a one-year period; and (3) to investigate rural parent behaviors in relation to family and child demographic variables. (CT)