Describes early schooling of Sam Houston. Brief description of structure and curriculum of one room school in Maryville, Tennessee, where Houston taught in 1812. Notes Houston's later reflections on his teaching experience. (CS)

Describes John Deweys' brief career as a secondary school teacher in Pennsylvania and Vermont from 1879 to 1882. Contains a quote that sums up Dewey's feelings about teaching. (SV)

Describes the education of Melvil Dewey, pioneer in library science, his early teaching experiences in rural New York, and the influence of these experiences on his final career choice. Discusses his concept of education for the masses through public libraries. (SV)

Of 75 small-district educational administrators identified as successful, a significant number displayed intuitive and thinking psychological types and preferred visionary rational leadership styles. This was particularly true for female administrators and was contrary to the traditional rational leadership style seen in earlier studies of…

A small Idaho school district gained public support for a school levy by producing and distributing a videotape of school activities and district needs. The videotape provided a clear, concise presentation of information while avoiding confrontations that often occur with other methods of communication. (Author/SV)

Outlines concerns that cause beginning teachers to leave rural schools. Discusses components of an overall teacher recruitment strategy, benefits of living and teaching in rural areas, and possible teacher incentives. Lists teacher retention strategies based on community or social environment, staff development, support procedures, or incentives.…

Describes funding available under Title II of P.L. 99-457 for provision of educational services to handicapped three- to five-year olds. Discusses the law's incentives and disincentives as they affect rural school districts. (SV)

Reports on interviews with community leaders associated with four rural Ohio high schools. Finds that these schools are the nuclei of their communities, are highly valued, and provide a community facility for recreational and cultural activities and for adult meetings. (SV)

Argues that preparation for rural teaching should include a seminar focusing on the literature about rural schooling and rural community dynamics. Suggests a curriculum of agrarian literature to help the future rural teacher deal with xenophobia, differing aspirations, and common illusions about rural life. (DHP)

Reviews literature on characteristics of rural schools and rural communities and compares these findings with the results of an open-ended survey of rural professionals about their experiences working in rural schools. Both sources identified limited resources as a problem, but quality of life issues were more explicitly identified by survey…

Presents a strategy for staff development designed to avoid resistance from tenured faculty. Suggests the use of outside consultants to train inside resource persons who then continue the staff development with their colleagues. Provides 11 references. (SKW)

Describes a collaboration for school improvement between a rural Texas school district and Texas Tech University, which later expanded to include the parent teacher organization, businesses, and the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Discusses identification of school improvement goals and actions taken in the first year. Contains 13…

Surveyed 134 small rural school administrators in New Mexico, west Texas, eastern Arizona, and southern California to determine their perception of education's role in economic development. Data suggest that most school districts place comparatively little emphasis on economic development. Offers strategies for communities to engage in active…

Examines the court struggle for fiscal adequacy and equity as it is being applied to rural schools and suggests that there are serious implications for financing education in an environment which promises continued complexity and change. The outcome of these struggles is critically important to stakeholders in rural education. (Author/KS)

Interviews with educators and community members in a very small rural Nebraska school district suggested causes for the district's exceptionally high superintendent turnover rate: low salary and status, lack of challenge, use of the position as a stepping stone, declining economy and population, community transition, and the superintendent's…