Rural Youth in the Seventies : Problems and Needs / William P. Kuvlesky.

Projecting the future for the rural youth of America, the paper examined the problems and needs of this group. Rural youth, for the most part economically, socially, and educationally disadvantaged, were not found to be chaffing at the bit to enter the value configurations and behavioral patterns of "Consciousness III". They are still very much imbued with a strong desire to achieve higher social rank, more material amenities, and to improve their basic life chances. Although there is great heterogenity along a number of dimensions among those that might be labeled rural youth, there are also some common attributes of circumstances, values, aspirations, needs, and prospects that cut across the majority of these diverse groups: most are at a relative disadvantage to compete with metropolites, most have high mobility aspirations, and most lack facilitation of any kind to accomplish their goals. Two publications which listed many of the needs for changing rural schools were cited: "Rural Education and the Educational Occupational Attainments of Youth" (Haller) and "Vocational Education in Rural Areas" (Griessman and Densley). The need for strong, well organized cooperation between Federal, state, and local governments was also stressed. Eight institutional structures impeding the possibility of innovative changes in counseling, training, and occupational placement of rural people were given, along with 4 structures that should be established to replace these. (KM)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.