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More than half of the world's population, and more than 70 percent of the world's poor live in rural areas where hunger, illiteracy, and low school achievement are common. Education in rural areas is crucial for achieving sustainable development. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning recently completed a comprehensive international study of education for rural development, focusing on constraints to achieving Education for All (EFA) in rural areas, improving educational access and quality, and strengthening the links between education and rural development. To continue this discourse, a seminar involving nine Asian countries was held in Bangkok in November 2002. Panel presentations and plenary discussions focused on five themes: addressing rural challenges to EFA, enhancing food security through education and training, the role of education in targeting rural poverty, changes in rural labor markets, and the impact on education of HIV/AIDS in rural areas. This proceedings summarizes sessions on each theme; presents group findings on rural community participation in local development, experiences in multisectoral coordination and programs, and approaches to institutional change; and includes five selected contributions. These are: (1) "Contributions of Education to Alleviating Rural Poverty" (Yu Fuzeng); (2) "Supporting Rural Education for Poverty Reduction: Issues and Approaches" (Chris A. Spohr); (3) "Responding to the Transformation of Rural Labour Markets: Implications for Education and Training" (Samuel T. Mancebo); (4) "Landcare in the Philippines: Developing Capacities of 'Farmers of the Future' and Their Communities" (Tom Vandenbosch); and (5) "Food for Education and Rural Development" (Anette Haller). A seminar program and lists of participants and papers presented are included. (SV)

The four primary purposes of the Annual Conference for the Teaching of English in Georgia are to bring together a broad spectrum of teachers and administrators concerned with the teaching of reading, English, and the language arts; to provide opportunities for teachers to talk to other teachers in order to share their problems and their successes; to bring to the conference qualified persons for a discussion of the political and social pressures that affect teachers and teaching in general; and to encourage the exchange of ideas through small group sessions and the exploration of available resources. This document contains a speech by Stephen Judy entitled "Teaching English in the 70's: Prospects and Priorities"; an excerpt from a discussion on accountability, competency-based education, and politics; reports from the group sessions; a shorter speech by Judy; and comments and suggestions from the conference participants. (TS)

This summary of the proceedings of the Georgia Conference on Teaching the English Language Arts contains an address, "Skellingtons," presented by Katie Letcher Lyle; five keynote addresses, each followed by discussion reports; reports of the media festival; a list of the teacher/student produced materials on display; reflections on the conference; a conference summary; closing remarks; an announcement concerning the 1976 conference; and a membership application blank. The keynote addresses were presented by the following participants: Jean Greenlaw on reading, literature, and language arts; Eunice Sims on communication skills; Derek Whordley on drama; Richard L. Graves on composition; and Sandra E. Gibbs on student-centered teaching. (JM)