Information from 22 oral history interviews, periodicals, unpublished manuscripts, and school records provides an indication of the role played by country schools in the history of southeastern Wyoming and forms part of an 8-state research effort to locate and preserve information related to country schools. The report focuses on six aspects of the country school experience: schools as historical sites, schools as community centers, teachers (their roles, rules and regulations), curriculum (reading, writing, arithmetic, and recitation), the school's role in the Americanization of ethnic groups, and the country school today. Two examples illustrate the continuing challenges of rural education in southern Wyoming. From the Laramie county superintendent in 1883: "Found School ... held in a tent with board placed on nail keg for seat. The teacher is supplied with a good table, globe, dictionary and fractural supplies. Mr. J.W. McClure is a faithful teacher though working under difficulties." In 1981 the State Department of Education believes several techniques must be "considered for continuing and strengthening rural education. These include ... increasing community involvement in rural schools; developing strong pre-service and in-service programs; conducting research on the stress of rural teaching and how to stem the high rate of turnover." (NEC)