Part of an 8-state effort to study the role rural schools have played in the history of the frontier and to locate and preserve information related to country schools, this report presents information drawn primarily from interviews with 30 former country school students, board members, and rural school teachers in western Nebraska and from visits to more than 40 schools, both abandoned and operating, covering most of the Nebraska Panhandle. The report addresses six aspects of rural education: country schools as historic sites, country schools and the Americanization of ethnic groups, country schools as community centers, curriculum, teachers (roles, rules, and restrictions), and country schools today. The report concludes that "until recently, the country school has been too close to recent events to be viewed as 'historic' by most people." It is difficult to make sweeping statements about country schools today. They vary in size, enrollment, type of community, and financial resources. Country teachers are better educated than their predecessors and somewhat better paid; however, they still perform duties ranging from janitor work to snake killing. Country schools still serve as community centers, but that function is less important than in the days of poorer transportation. (Author/NEC)