TODAY, ONLY 1 OUT OF EVERY 8 PEOPLE IS A FARM DWELLER, AND THIS RATIO DECREASES BY 4 PERCENT ANNUALLY. AS A RESULT, THE STUDENT DISTRIBUTION HAS BECOME EXTREMELY SKEWED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE URBAN SCHOOL, WHILE RURAL SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CURTAIL NEEDED SERVICES. CONSEQUENTLY, THE RURAL STUDENT LAGS ABOUT 2 YEARS BEHIND THE URBAN STUDENT IN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. RURAL FAMILIES OF TODAY, ALTHOUGH LESS NUMEROUS, HAVE APPROACHED THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STANDARDS OF URBAN FAMILIES. SEVERAL PATTERNS APPEAR TO BE EMERGING IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE. THREE OCCUPATIONAL CLUSTERS ARE IN EVIDENCE TODAY--(1) THE BUSINESS-LIKE FARMER WHO APPROACHES FARMING AS AN INDUSTRY, (2) THE LOW INCOME FARMER WHO IS FOUND ON THE POORER LAND AND WHO IS MOST IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, AND (3) THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE CITY AND SIMPLY LIVE IN RURAL AREAS, WHO APPROACH AGRICULTURE FROM A STRICTLY AVOCATIONAL STANDPOINT. THE TRADE CENTER COMMUNITY HAS REPLACED THE STEREOTYPED RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD. ANOTHER EMERGENT PATTERN HAS BEEN WITH RESPECT TO RURAL PERSONALITY. TRADITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INDEPENDENCE, SELF-RELIANCE, AND THE CONVICTION OF THE SECONDARY ROLE OF EDUCATION HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE STRONG MOTIVATION TO GAIN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POSITION. THIS SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RURAL EDUCATION, NEA LOUISVILLE, OCTOBER 7-8, 1960). (DA)