As part of an eight-state research effort to locate and preserve information related to country schools, this report examines western South Dakota's country schools as historic sites, country schools as community centers, teachers (their roles, rules, and restrictions), school curriculum, education for Sioux Indians, and country schools today. School records, periodicals, manuscripts, and oral histories provide facts and anecdotes such as: in 1935 there were 4,029 frame school buildings, 77 of stucco, 59 of brick, 18 of hollow tile, 13 of logs, 3 each of stone and concrete, and 2 of sod; 11:00 P.M. was the hour when both men and women teachers were expected to be home; state law required that there must be at least 7 pupils to constitute a school, but this rule was broken or changed because some schools had only 2 or 3 pupils; in 1894, 81.7% of the children in South Dakota were enrolled in school, while during the depression year of 1934, only 42.8% of the children were enrolled; because of the lack of pencils, paper, and books, memorization was an important part of education; today, 108 small rural schools are still operating in western South Dakota. (NEC)