My big city counterparts regale me with their tales of opulent classrooms, teacher restrooms on every hall, and regular field trips to large museums, plays, and other cultural offerings.
It doesn't bother me in the least. When I hear that, I even feel a little sorry for them. My list of blessings in teaching in a rural, small school district is abundant.
My commute is along peaceful highways and country roads. The only traffic jams I encounter are when a flock of chickens wanders from their coop into the road or when a particular bull successfully outwits the gate on his pasture. If he is wandering on the road, I sometimes get out of my car to shoo him back in if I don't have to get my shoes wet.
Not all my students ride the bus. One boy from several years ago rode his horse most fair weather days to school and pastured the mare next to the baseball field. Another student was dropped off by his dad each day on a large tractor, plow attached. Still another adventurous fellow rode the half mile to school each day on a bladeless riding lawn mower, obeying his mom's admonishment that he wear a helmet even though his speed never exceeded three miles per hour.
Most of my students come to me already saying, "Yes ma'am," and "No ma'am." The vast majority of my male students hold the doors open for women. Chivalry is more the norm than the exception. When I took a stupendously embarrassing fall one day at school (Spectacular Fall), the four 8th grade boys who unfortunately witnessed it were ready to carry me to the office in their bony arms even though I was already on my feet by the time they got to me.
I have taught a couple of generations of the same families. I've also taught multiple branches from a number of family trees. They treat me as if I am grafted into that family. I go to their weddings, the christenings of their babies, and sadly, sometimes their funerals.
It is a school holiday when the livestock show rolls around. Students have pictures of their show animals taped inside of their lockers more often than they do pictures of movie stars or famous singers.When the fire alarm siren wails at the volunteer fire station one block away, most of the men on campus rush over to man the trucks.
We don't have a working school bell in my building, but it is of no concern. A nearby rooster crows every morning at almost the same time to welcome his day's start and ours.
The school is the heart of the community in rural areas, and ours is no exception. Turnouts for Christmas programs, 8th grade graduations and such events are held in front of standing room only audiences.
I'm not trying to get everyone to sing the theme song to Green Acres. Not everything about rural life is desirable. And are rural schools, including mine, perfect? By no means. I could actually even make substantially more money by teaching in a large city district.
Some things are worth more than money, though. The big city lights aren't attractive to me. The lights I like best are the warm hues of the sunrise that unfold over us as we begin each school day.
This post takes me home to the rolling hills of South Central Pennsylvania, Shelly. My high school was located in a small town surrounded by farms. I lived many miles away in suburbia on the outer fringe of the school district. It's ironic that I was within walking distance of a more modern, sophisticated and prestigious school but I was bussed 30 minutes to the rural school. A good number of students rode to school each day on tractors. 4-H was bigger than college prep. I have no regrets about being required to attend that "farmer school" as the suburban snobs used to call it. I was fortunate to have had a few teachers like you, Shelly, who weren't in it for the money or the prestige. They instilled in me the old fashioned, down to earth values that you see me expressing today. My parents didn't buy me a new convertible sports car every year like some parents did in suburbia, nor did I ride a tractor to school. I was on a college track but reaped the benefits of an unpretentious school staffed by good, honest, decent, hard working educators like you.
ReplyDeleteI, like you, spent years in a rural school even more isolated than the one in which I now teach. While lacking in certain amenities, the general culture of the rural school is more family oriented and grassroots.
DeleteI am thinking you were part of the court ordered busing in the 60's to help desegregate schools? It is very ironic that you were so close to a more modern school yet ended up being bused so far away.
I am so glad you, too, see the values in rural schools. And the rural school helped to create the wonderful person you are today, and for that, we are all thankful, friend!
In my case being bussed a long distance to school had nothing to do with desegregation. The boundary line separating the two school districts happened to be two blocks from my home and I was on the side that had to attend the school clear across the county. Thank you for the very kind words, dear friend, and have a great weekend!
DeleteThanks for the clarification, friend Tom!
DeleteI am not surprised that your heart and soul lies with your rural school. You always seem to have the needs of others front and center. I'm sure they value your teaching abilities and even more all the wondrous things that make you...Shelly! I wish my children had been blessed with you as their teacher. You are a gem, a rarity in this world Shelly. True, kind and caring.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be a fly on the wall and watch you in action.
Hugs~
You are so very kind, Sush. I love your tender heart. You say so many nice things about me that I'm not so sure I'm worthy of. But, I do wish I's had the opportunity to teach your kids. I know they are quality adults and would have been a pleasure to have. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
DeleteWhat I really liked about this post was that you let us get to know you a little more. I can just picture your day a little better...a little more. For some reason, I was picturing you in a much larger school, much like the ones I went to when I lived in CA. (like 1000 kids per grade)
ReplyDeleteI love how you write and your rural school totally fits the Shelly we have all grown to know and love!
Jamie Jo: My first eight years of teaching were in large schools just like you went to. I taught only the gifted and talented kids in those schools, and while that was certainly rewarding, I appreciate my kiddoes here because they do so much without many of the advantages.
ReplyDeleteYou do such a fantastic job teaching your kids. I wish all public schools had caring teachers like you in them and I wish all home schools had moms like you teaching in them!
Your school sounds wonderful, Shelly. I can believe it is a much safer and happier environment for the kids. I grew up going to church schools in the city and then a huge high school with 3,000 students. I'm sure I would have preferred your school.
ReplyDeleteBelle: In many ways it is much safer than a big city school, although there are things that concern me for my students here. My high school was large, too, and like you, I would have much preferred a small school for that.
DeleteMan Shelly and I thought I worked in a home town country school. With the exception of the kids arriving on horseback or a tractor sounds like we have much in common!!
DeleteSaimi: Country schools are the way to go, aren't they!
DeleteI grew up in such a school as this. I know the wonder of it and how well you would have been regarded and respected.
ReplyDeleteI especially love that you taught the children's children. How special is that!!!
The school I attended in south western New South Wales, Australia, was a farming community also with migrants mainly from Malta, Italy and Germany. Since the majority of these were Italian, we all learned many words and songs from that country. Growing up in a country school brings everyone closer. Its like one large family. Thank you for renewing my many memories.
Crystal Mary: I'm so glad you had the wonderful opportunity like you had. You are so right- it is like one big family, and for kids who have no family or disfunctional ones, the school is where they find the comfort of family.
DeleteI'm sure there are many pros and cons to each side, but I kind of like the idea of children who are polite and respectful, and who love their animals more than celebrities. I can't help but think that you make a huge difference in their lives, and I love how they include you in their family events. That would never happen in a bigger city school, so just look how much you'd be missing out on! Makes me want to come volunteer.
ReplyDeleteKaren: It would be terrific to work with you! And, I'm with you. Kids who can raise and nurture an animal and see its value over fake celebrity-dom have something really right going on in them.
DeleteThat sounds so lovely. I would love for children to attend your school. I would LOVE if you could be their teacher. I would rest easier while they were away knowing they were in your care.
ReplyDeleteThis takes me back to Nashville Elementary, Middle & High School, all on the same piece of real estate. Also a time when there was no thought of drugs, pornography, murder, etc. Just a calm peaceful happy life that was not boring at all. A time when you showed respect to the teachers or else. I really miss those days a lot.
ReplyDeleteCrystal: I would adore teaching your kids. What teaccher doesn't like teaching creative intelligent kids?
ReplyDeleteOdie: I wish every kids had that- a calm, peaceful and respectful place in which to grow and learn. Doesn't seem like much to ask, but it's far out of reach for too many kids.
ReplyDeleteI spent my last two years of high school in a rural area and I have such fond memories of it. There were only 33 of us in my graduating class and we're all friends on facebook now. So many of us moved to places far and wide after hs and now we're organizing an event called Returnstock 2012, which will be held at the fairgrounds near our old school this August. I can't wait to see everyone and their children. I have such wholesome memories of that place. I wish I could raise my son there.
ReplyDeleteI love your heart blog background. I know it's kind of boring but I love hearts and whenever I'm drawing or painting with my son, I seem to make hearts. That's about all I CAN draw, lol.
I meant that my drawing hearts is boring - not that your background is! Just reread that and didn't want it to be misunderstood. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say, Shelly, that you're definitely teaching in the best place - much better than the City! It does sound rather wonderful, and I suspect that your pupils want to actually learn. Lovely to hear that they are so mannerly as well. That is something that can be so sadly missing these days. Love your new blog look!
ReplyDeleteJenn June: I would have loved to have a part of a high school class that small. My elementary and middle school were like that and then my high school was really large. The Returnstock- a stroke of genius. I do hope you will write about it- I'd love to hear how it goes! And, I love hearts, too. Thanks, too, but I understood! :)
ReplyDeleteThisisme: I really do hear horror tales of how some students act towards their teachers, and I'm thankful everyday I get to teach the kids I do. Probably 97% of them truly do want to learn. The other 3%, well...
ReplyDeleteThanks for noticing the new background- thought it would be appropriate for Valentine's! Have a wonderful weekend!
Dear Shelly,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your school and the way the community is drawn to it. I grew up in rural Michigan and attended a very small school. When we had music programs, the gym was packed. Everyone cared about that little school. It was there that my dream of teaching began. The challenge for me now is that I cannot return to that rare and magical place, where the playground stretched out and into fields and woods. Where the teachers were loving and firm and full of kindness. I now walk into our local elementary school and am completely overwhelmed and intimidated. I could be teaching there now as a sub. It's so close I could walk there. I'm so overwhelmed by it and Elliot had so many problems there that we just stay home. I miss the special place that a rural school can be!
Jenny: I think that those rural schools like the one you attended and the one where I teach are too sadly disappearing from our landscape. I wish all schools were operated on those values.
DeleteI'm like you. Sometimes I visit a large school and I feel almost a panic rising in me. I can only imagine what it does to the kids.
Sparked nostalgia. Your setting reminds me so much of the school and community in which my teaching career started over fifty years ago. I am gratified that this still exists somewhere. btw, I still maintain friendships with the students I taught then, though most of their parents have passed on.
ReplyDeleteVanilla: I love to hear stories of how school was taught then. My mom is a retired kindergarten teacher of 37 years and my dad is a retired superintendent. I think it's wonderful you still maintain those friendships. I hope to do the same!
ReplyDelete