An Ethnography on Educational Activities of Three Middle Schools in Rural Area

Abstract

This paper was to study characteristics of school types based on classification of rural areas. This study tried to provide basic data for implementing the development of rural education policy for the community unit by classifying and analyzing administrative districts. For the purpose, the researcher carried out literature reviews and selected three schools considering the gaps in size and location of rural community. The researcher interviewed teachers and parents, to gather information about rural education, and conducted participant observation on educational activities. As a result, this study showed each rural school has its own distinct characteristics by the school types corresponding to each rural community. Characteristics with school types were influenced by school location, possible migration into the cities, possible opportunities of private tutoring, school size, social class distribution, socio-economic status, dwelling pattern of school teachers. In conclusion, it is important that the educational policies for rural area consider the different characteristics of rural schools.