This research was a qualitative case study involving 24 participants of a rural junior/senior high school in East Texas. The purpose of this study was to document the perceptions of students, faculty, administration, and community members in a small rural Texas community, exploring why they perceive their school to be a successful learning environment. The main objective of this basic interpretative case study was to interpret the meaning of how the participants make sense of their lives and their worlds. This study was guided by the following research questions: What factors determine success as identified by stakeholders in Pinewoods Independent School District? How do stakeholders in Pinewoods Independent School District perceive success in their junior/senior high school? The method of inquiry was an informal conversational interview with each participant. These interviews triangulated with a focus group, examination of historical documents, observations, and member checks. The themes revealed in the research included: (a) the rural advantage with three sub-themes, community safe and supportive of its citizens, a community without racial tension, and a nurturing community; (b) pride and tradition with two sub-themes, high expectations and competitive nature of school and school pride; and (c) quality of the school, Pinewoods style with four sub-themes, good discipline in school, dedicated teachers, high expectations in academic and extracurricular activities, and Pinewoods as a successful school. There are implications for policy, practice, and additional research that are necessary for all demographic factors of a rural community. The demographic factors include administrators, teachers, students, and citizens. The intent of the researcher is that the findings of this study be shared with other interested individuals throughout the state and nation to help them better understand how students are taught by a dedicated faculty, staff, and administration, while working through various difficulties such as low socioeconomic students, a continually decreasing community economy, and a lack of sufficient resources for the school.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-158).

Hallsburg ISD is a small, rural, K-6 school district struggling to sustain its operations due to reduced funding from the state, decreased enrollment, and a decrease in the local tax base. This Problem in Practice Record of Study examines the sustainability issues associated with this school district and its importance to the community. Key stakeholders in the community and school district were interviewed to help develop a thick description of this district’s position in the community. Surveys were also sent to randomly selected, registered voters living in the district, to provide more in-depth data in the development of a thick description. District documents were also studied to provide more information in the plight of the district and provide for the triangulation of data. The interviews showed a very strong relationship between the participants and the school district. The key stakeholder participants included community leaders as well as parents of current and past students who represent the district demographics. The majority of this group supported raising their taxes to improve the school district and prevent it from consolidating with a neighboring district. While the surveys strongly supported the notion of how important the school was to the community, the results were not as favorable toward raising taxes. Only half of the survey respondents favored raising their taxes to keep the local school open and keeping local control of the district. The other half favored consolidating with a neighboring school district over raising their taxes. The overall results were very favorable toward the importance of the school district to the community. The challenging economic conditions place a very strong dilemma on many residents, as they would vote to lose their district over raising taxes. One recommendation to the district is to educate the community of the local tax situation. If Hallsburg ISD were to consolidate with any of the neighboring districts, the tax rate would immediately increase. This increase would be higher than the tax rate needed to sustain the district and keep Hallsburg School open.

The record of study, The History of Cranfills Gap ISD, traces the significant chronological events, external and internal influences and aspirations of community, parents and students through the development of this rural school in Central Texas. The development of the Cranfills Gap institution follows the organizational lifecycle theory of Ichak Adizes, Ph.D. This work poses a single question: What were the significant events throughout the 120 year history of CGISD? The pursuit of an answer to this question reveals the intricately woven web of issues associated with any discussion of educational change. On one level, the question might conjure a debate between educators who support small schools as opposed to large consolidated schools. This record of study, however, was framed to present the rural Texas school from an organizational development point of view. The rural school is remembered by former students, teachers and administrators within the context of county, state and national changes. Historic documents and oral histories are used to provide evidence of the stage of development. Within the stage of development the aspirations and needs of the community and students are revealed. Historic documents describe the school in quantitative terms, providing tangible, measurable data in the form of information such as cost of buildings, furnishings, number of pupils, teachers and length of term. Oral histories describe the rural school in qualitative terms. From the perspective of former students, teachers and administrators, a rural school is described by interpersonal relationships with the community at large, parents and classmates. The accumulation of unquantifiable, intangible, holistic data provides a complete picture of the rural school in Central Texas. The contribution of this record of study to the general knowledge of the educational community is that rural schools reflect the community’s moral convictions, aspirations and challenges. The evolution of change in education is influenced by external forces such as, state and federal policy, national economic situations, technological advances and internal factors such as leadership changes, patron demands, and financial stability. A longitudinal review of one educational system enables insight into the impact these forces have had. The 140-square-mile region around Cranfills Gap saw the convergence of Norwegian immigrants in 1854, when they began establishing churches and schools. Committed to ensuring Norwegian children were afforded sufficient education, community members took risks financially to establish and maintain the school. The reform movement to standardize education at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution propelled Cranfills Gap into providing a local high school. The 1930s and 1940s were a time of rapid growth and change. The period of greatest success featured a school-community partnership illustrated by actions of internal cohesion. By 1960 the rural district was experiencing declining enrollment, placing the district in a survival mode. Content to enjoy and rely upon the momentum created during the Prime stage of development, Cranfills Gap became a bureaucratic institution at the brink of closure in 2008.

No description available.

Every school music program has a history and a culture. This thesis was a study synthesizing those two elements, seeking to explore the past culture of a rural school music program primarily through interviews with former members of this culture. Throughout are examples of how music teachers, music students, administrators, and community members interacted over the course of approximately 30 years. From these interactions, the researcher drew insights about patterns of teacher behavior that could improve or hinder progress in a music program, including the quality of interpersonal relationships, the value of a teacher trying to integrate in a community (especially when it is a small rural community), and the importance of cooperating with other faculty members to share limited resources in a small school.

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of computer-based technology and technology support provided by a rural school division; the extent of teachers’ self reported computer skills, comfort levels, perception of obstacles; and the amount of support, time, and training available to them to accomplish the integration during the course of instruction. This research was conducted during the 2010-2011 school term as a case study of a small rural K-12 school division in southern Virginia, consisting of teachers from each core curriculum from each of the three schools, selected deliberately. The study was divided into three phases: an analysis of the school survey; focus group discussion with teachers; and qualitative data generated from focus group interviews. A major finding was that the teachers contend that classroom practices can be changed if teachers are given time to plan how to integrate technology in instruction, thus better preparing students for the 21st century. To accomplish this changed school leaders need to promote opportunities and remove obstacles that impede effective technology integration, and that additional time, access, and training should be established. Because teacher perceptions impact the success of technology integration and support, it is imperative to provide sufficient time for training on how to utilize available equipment in the classroom. This study also reinforced the importance of understanding teacher perceptions which are as important a resource as the hardware and software in computer-based technology in order to promote the successful integration of computer technology in classrooms.

The overall aim of this doctoral thesis is to increase knowledge and understanding of special needs education in rural schools. More specifically, the purpose of this thesis is to examine and analyse the enabling and constraining conditions in special needs education for the mission of class teachers', principals' and special educators'. To fulfil this purpose, the following research question is posed: What are the enabling and constraining conditions for special needs education and its organisation, and what meanings are given to special needs education in rural schools? In order to meet this aim four studies were conducted in a total of 58, mainly Swedish rural schools. The schools were spread out geographically and represented both public and independent rural schools. The empirical data consists of interviews, observations and questionnaires. The method of analysis was mainly qualitative content analysis. Descriptive statistics were also used. The first study (Article 1) examines class teachers' conditions for supporting pupils with special educational needs in seven rural schools in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The main results of the interview study are summarized into four themes; relationship, collaboration, distance and concern. The second study (Article II) investigates how principals in rural Swedish schools organize special needs education. A web questionnaire was answered by 45 principals. The results show that the principals balance between an individual approach to special needs and a flexible way of organizing special needs education. The third study (Article III) examines how special educators' expertise in educational consultation is utilized in order to support professional development of class teachers who work in rural schools with diverse pupil groups. Three authentic consultation sessions were observed and analysed. The results show that consultation as a support strategy enables the class teachers to support pupils with special educational needs and strengthens professional collaboration between special educators and class teachers. The fourth study (Article IV) investigates what meanings educators working as principals in independent rural schools attach to special needs education. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire with open-ended questions. According to the principals' special needs education is an activity aimed at supporting all pupils' learning and development. The results also show that the independent schools have strong ties to the surrounding community. The thematic analysis of the four studies displays two main concepts; inner force and outer pressure. These concepts illustrate the enabling as well as the constraining conditions for special needs education in rural schools. The inner force stems from relationships, familiar atmosphere, the possibilities to meet all pupils' needs, collaboration and flexible ways of organizing the educational activities, while the outer pressure stems from threats of school closure, lack of resources and unappreciative municipal authorities. Despite the constraining conditions, which make the rural school vulnerable, the enabling conditions seem to dominate, making the rural school an inclusive learning environment able to meet all pupils' diverse learning needs.

O tema desta pesquisa é a escola rural e o problema da escolarização de crianças de Atibaia, estado de São Paulo. O período estudado tem como marco inicial o ano de 1964, quando ocorreu o Golpe Militar até 1985 ano que marcou o início da nova redemocratização brasileira. Foi realizado um estudo da escolarização de crianças em escolas rurais, enfatizando os papéis integrador e socializador da escola junto aos filhos dos trabalhadores nascidos na região, além de migrantes que se estabeleceram em dois bairros rurais de Atibaia, Portão e Água Espraiada. Abordam- se as diferenças existentes na população rural, tanto em relação às condições materiais de vida, quanto à produção dos bens simbólicos, papéis anteriormente contemplados pela escola. Para compreender esse processo, optou-se metodologicamente pelas técnicas da História Oral, entrelaçadas aos estudos da memória, enquanto fenômeno social. Através da realização de entrevistas semi estruturadas, foram coletadas informações que contribuíram para a compreensão da complexidade das questões que envolvem o campo brasileiro e a educação escolar de sua população. / The theme of this research is the rural school and the problem of access and education of childrens from Atibaia, State of Sao Paulo. The study period is from 1964, when there was the military coup, to 1985, marked by the beginning of Brazilian democracy. The study focused on rural schools and their integrating and socialing role in the education of workers and migrants families located in two rural districts of Atibaia, Portão and Água Espraiada neighborhoods. To understand this process, the oral history methodology was chosen, and memory studies as a social phenomenon. By carrying out semi-structured interviews, information was collected that contributed to the understanding of the complexity of the issues surrounding the Brazilian countryside and the education of its population.

O tema desta pesquisa é a escola rural e o problema da escolarização de crianças de Atibaia, estado de São Paulo. O período estudado tem como marco inicial o ano de 1964, quando ocorreu o Golpe Militar até 1985 ano que marcou o início da nova redemocratização brasileira. Foi realizado um estudo da escolarização de crianças em escolas rurais, enfatizando os papéis integrador e socializador da escola junto aos filhos dos trabalhadores nascidos na região, além de migrantes que se estabeleceram em dois bairros rurais de Atibaia, Portão e Água Espraiada. Abordam- se as diferenças existentes na população rural, tanto em relação às condições materiais de vida, quanto à produção dos bens simbólicos, papéis anteriormente contemplados pela escola. Para compreender esse processo, optou-se metodologicamente pelas técnicas da História Oral, entrelaçadas aos estudos da memória, enquanto fenômeno social. Através da realização de entrevistas semi estruturadas, foram coletadas informações que contribuíram para a compreensão da complexidade das questões que envolvem o campo brasileiro e a educação escolar de sua população. / The theme of this research is the rural school and the problem of access and education of childrens from Atibaia, State of Sao Paulo. The study period is from 1964, when there was the military coup, to 1985, marked by the beginning of Brazilian democracy. The study focused on rural schools and their integrating and socialing role in the education of workers and migrants families located in two rural districts of Atibaia, Portão and Água Espraiada neighborhoods. To understand this process, the oral history methodology was chosen, and memory studies as a social phenomenon. By carrying out semi-structured interviews, information was collected that contributed to the understanding of the complexity of the issues surrounding the Brazilian countryside and the education of its population.