Summary II (Afternoon Plenary Discussion)

Following the three national researchers' presentations, there was a brief opportunity for reflection and comment among the symposium participants.

In general, the sense of the group as to whether or not it is meaningful to approach problems from the regional vantage point that DEF has suggested was “Probably. Pick something and let's see how it works.” The remarks of Nancy Jennings from Bowdoin College in Maine regarding “place-based” education sparked a great deal of discussion. While Robert Gibbs of ERS/USDA emphasized that we have many parents with minimal education, particularly in our minority and immigrant populations, the group's perception appeared to be that the lack of understanding of the value of education is not limited to our minority and immigrant parents, and this is a challenge ripe for addressing.

Participants were encouraged to convey their observations and recommendations for pursuing issues of rural education policy and research by way of evaluation forms handed in at the symposium's end. Briefly, a tabulation of these evaluations discovered very positive impressions of the symposium and encouragement for more work as follows:

• More focused topics
• Development of a mission and action plan
• Share information about the conference with the public
• “Market” education
• Develop a clearinghouse on information on rural education
• Study place-based education

Plenary group discussions.