City girl, when you move to the country you may have hesitations about the small school district and how it may be different from larger school systems. There are differences, but also a lot of similarities. To help you understand some of the differences here are a few things you will not find in a small school district:
>huge class sizes
>an abundance of specials and electives
>short bus rides
>more faculty than you will ever get to know
>huge numbers of kids on sports teams
>sports like lacrosse and rugby
But I want to tell you more importantly what you will find in the smaller schools:
>teachers who really know your kids and their siblings
>small classes that are more like a group of friends than classmates
>schools who know what it means to pick priorities and offer what the students need most
>students who are talented in a variety of sports because they are needed in different areas
>students who get to have teachers repeatedly
>schools who do not take the excuse of being a small district to offer a less than excellent education
There are so many more specific reasons why I am proud of the small district where my children attend. //A leader in 1:1 computing // first in the state to offer online schooling // huge jumps in reading and math scores // leaders in new teaching methods being implemented around the country//
If you are making a move that involves going from a large district to a smaller one I want to encourage you. Don’t write off a school just because it seems “rural” or small. Instead do your research. Find out what the small schools in your area offer, what are their strengths. Just like all big city schools are not equal, the same is true of rural districts. You just may be impressed by what you find small districts doing in education.
And to all the teachers, thank you. Thank you for not making the small town an excuse. Thank you for serving as you would in any other district.
To read more of the 31 day series on the transition from city girl to farm wife you can go {here}.