Video Reviews for Rural Education
Amy Smith - University of West Alabama
Politics of Rural Education
Rural America is running out of teachers
Assignment: Find a video that is about School Site Policies. The policy here is that the school system was unable to find qualified teachers. The administrative leader began two different successful recruitment campaigns for new teachers.
This video is focused on Shelby, Montana and the creative things that Superintendent Crump has done with his school system. His solutions for the problem of teacher shortages were very creative ranging from college recruitment practicums to bringing in teachers from the Philippines.
Three things I learned:
Some districts in Montana do not receive a single application for teaching positions.
School systems bring in teachers from other countries.
How extremely rural some areas are. I learned there are extreme variations on what we consider rural. The school where the video was filmed is an hour and a half away from Walmart and three hours from the nearest shopping mall or Costco.
Two things I could implement:
College student week long practicum. Would be a win win for college students and high school students.
Intensive college recruitment program where they come in and do professional trainings with the teachers to have a feel for what it’s like to teach in a rural area.
One thing I would like to research further:
Bringing in teachers from other countries such as the Philippines. Is this common in rural school districts? What is the success rate?
How technology transformed a rural Idaho school
Assignment: Find a video on School Reform/Organizational Reform. The reform is this video is that the administrative leader became very creative and transformed his school to meet the needs of his students.
This video focus is on Wilder, Idaho was only ten years ago the school was one of the lowest-performing schools in the state. They applied for a grant from Apple that totally transformed the way that they teach children. They are changing the narrative for education. Each child works on different subject areas at the same time while in the classroom through the use of technology.
In traditional education, we are making the assumption that each student learns at the same rate as another student. This results in frustration for all students.
This school is fixing the flaws in traditional education.
Technology has greatly improved the daily routine of a very isolated and small school district.
Two things I could implement:
Use of technology to teach courses that we are not able to offer.
At least one class allowing students to work at their own pace through the use of technology.
One thing I would like to research further:
The grants that they received from Apple. The video also mentioned several from cell phone service providers such as Sprint and Verizon.
Why American Public Schools are Failing Students
Assignment: Watch a video on the politics of Schools/Organizations
The politics are the NCLB Initiatives and the federal money being given to charter schools to replace the local schools.
Why American Public Schools are Failing Students
Three things I learned:
Public schools are made up of 40% minority students and only 17% of minority teachers.
In the past decade, we have lost over 26,000 minority teachers.
Low performing schools have closed being replaced by charter schools and this has contributed to the disappearance of minority students.
Two things I could implement:
More recruitment initiatives for minority teachers.
Attempt to decrease policies that reinforce the school to prison pipeline. Reduce the zero tolerance as it applies to school rules being enforced by the juvenile court system.
One thing I would like to research further:
What school districts are doing to recruit and retain minority students.
What is the American College Application Campaign?
Assignment: Find a video about a State and Federal Initiative. This video is about the National College Application Campaign (Federal) and the Alabama College Application Campaign (state) which is the campaign on a local level. This video is about the benefits of showing students the connection between applying to college or obtaining a secondary credential. It creates a better economy and more educated citizens.
Three things I learned:
ACAC is a National effort to increase the number of first-generation college students from low-income families to pursue a college degree obtaining a higher education credential.
The college application and admissions process is often challenging for first-generation or minority students.
The economic health of a democratic society is determined by the education of our citizens.
Two things I would like to implement:
The video mentioned a goal that 70% of the community’s high school graduates would obtain a college degree or higher education credential in 2020. I would love to share that goal as well.
I would like to integrate more technology into the application process to reach all students in my large rural population.
One thing I would like to research further:
I would like to research how other states assist in students making the connection between higher education and economic success.
Grounding Rural School Principal Challenges in Research
Assignment: Find a video on Political Power in Rural Schools. This video was a positive example of politics and school leaders working together to find a solution that benefits them both.
This video was about a meeting that involved rural principals and legislatures where they discussed needs specific to rural areas. The meeting was successful in raising awareness of issues that the legislators were previously unaware of. Three things that I learned: Rural leaders felt their main concerns were: district budget limitations, continuous increase in job responsibilities, continuous increase in job responsibilities, what it means to be considered a rural area, and needs that are unique to rural communities. Rural leaders felt that legislators could support them the greatest in providing meaningful professional development and mentoring opportunities. Legislatures were unaware of the issues that rural leaders faced. Two things that I could implement: A meeting such as this with legislatures and my own district leaders to share our specific concerns. An organization such as the one that they created in the video for rural leaders to have a support system in their own state. One thing I could research further: What type of professional development or mentoring have other states used and what have they seen as most enhancing?