THE RURBAN FRINGE

Learning to Fly

Posted on | February 10, 2009 | 2 Comments

Further to my post about The Impacts of Rural School Consolidation, I wanted to share some impressive solutions rural schools have developed – often in partnership – to add value for their students … and for their community-at-large.

  1. The Royal Tyrell Museum has collaborated to deliver videoconferencing education – with a paleontology angle – to students in Canada, the United States and beyond. 
  2. With a history of aviation in the area, middle schools in the San Fernando Valley have the option of accessing funding – sponsored by the local economic alliance, Rotary Club and the airport - to employ aviation and community service programming in their curriculum.
  3. And the Vermont Rural Partnership has developed a unique approach “whose mission is to enlarge student learning and improve community life by strengthening relationships between rural schools and communities and engaging students in community-based public work.” 

From crisis, comes opportunity.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Learning to Fly”

  1. Nancy Thompson
    December 5th, 2010 @ 10:27 am

    Since I just discovered The Rurban Fringe, let me add something to this post. I wanted to point out that in the perhaps atypical rural community where the community itself has a lot going for it but where the school system is struggling, it is critical that the community realize the value of the school system and do what is necessary to keep it.

    I have been involved in some discussions in Indiana where an important historical town has held its own during the recession and was gaining before that, but the school system is only marginally big enough to stay afloat and provide a decent education. Along with innovative practices on the part of the school to incorporate the richness of the town fabric into actual education, I’ve encouraged the town to go out and recruit families with school age children.

    Families interested in moving there would be those that support themselves with portable work. The positive is that walkable small town living in communion with nature, heated with intellectual and cultural amenities not generally available in small towns, is a great environment for kids. And the adults who live on a computer in a sometimes tense marketing environment could relax into the real world in the evenings and ground themselves.

    As in several other community development situations, I think that an “I will if you will” pledging campaign would be beneficial. People who were interested would sign a non-binding agreement to move there if, and only if, a certain number of other families also could be attracted.

    Due to the idiosyncracies of this situation, a 50% enrollment increase would save the school. The schools are important not only to keeping some kids around town, but also to providing additional community meeting space and resources. If the tourism-oriented space is full, the locals can still meet, exercise, and have potlucks at the schools.

  2. Jennifer
    December 6th, 2010 @ 9:27 am

    @ Nancy – Great comment … it all comes down to maximizing and creatively using one’s resources!

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