A Foot in the Door: Rural Communities Involved in Educational Change

Two workshops on rural education held at Highlander Research and Education Center brought together grassroots community activists, parents, teachers, and students from rural communities in Appalachia, the southeast, and 15 states east of Mississippi. The participants represented the experiences of white Appalachians, African-Americans, Native Americans, and rural New Englanders. The report combines the views expressed by participants in the Highlander convocation process with an overview of rural education issues derived from the literature and data sources. It starts with the questions: What is education and Who is it for? The notion that education's primary purpose is to produce informed and empowered citizenry, not merely to produce a workforce, is emphasized. It considers the issues of curriculum, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in education. The sorting and screning function of schools is examined. School tracking systems and other labeling practices are questioned as reflecting class or racial discrimination. In addressing issues of financing and decision making about school policy, unequal funding of rural, as compared to urban, districts is discussed. The report concludes with accounts of communities that have organized to make changes in how their school systems work. Appendices include: (1) a sample Community Education Profile, produced by the Center for Literacy Studies for participants in the convccation; (2) a story about getting information about school systems from the Federal Government; (3) a list of resources for communities seeking to make changes in their educational systems; and (4) a list of participants in the convocation.