More than 250 teachers at CTA's first Rural Issues Conference in February discussed common concerns in meeting rooms above the din of slot machines and blackjack tables in Henderson, Nev.
Leaders who created CTA's first Rural Conference include Chico Service Center Council Chair Mike Jauregui and CTA Board Members Larry C. Carlin and Michael R. Green (left to right).
Although they don't expect to receive a jackpot from the state anytime soon, many teachers said it would be nice to receive a winning hand once in a while - or at least some acknowledgement of their problems by those in power.
Some teachers came from one-room schoolhouses. Others came from growing rural towns such as Modesto and Redding. The diversity of rural educators and their backgrounds reflected the theme of the conference, "Rural is a state of mind."
Some urban teachers also turned up at the conference to show support and learn a thing or two from their country cousins.
For example, rural teachers earn less in salaries and benefits. Rural schools get shortchanged when Sacramento hands out funding. Rural communities have all of the problems of the inner city low-performing schools, poverty, drugs and crime - yet wield less political clout. Rural life may feature postcard settings, but often the social environment doesn't paint a pretty picture.
There was a wide array of CTA workshops to address rural concerns, such as migrant education, rural economics, accountability in rural schools, distance learning for isolated communities, and peer assistance and peer review programs in small, rural chapters. Special "Meet the Officers" sessions gave participants an opportunity to question CTA President Wayne Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer David A. Sanchez and Executive Director Carolyn Doggett.
A facilitated dialogue on rural communities was packed with teachers sharing their concerns and brainstorming for solutions. Many said that the declining timber industry meant an increase in the number of rural residents on welfare and declining enrollment in schools as families move away. Other common problems include:
- Distance-learning charter schools are taking more students away from public school classrooms.
- Transportation costs are soaring as districts pay to bus students who may live more than an hour away from school sites. Many rural schools can't afford field trips. "In the state capital, they don't understand that our costs are higher," said George Sheridan, a member of the Black Oak Mine Teachers Association. "A $92,000 bus that is fine in the city won't work on our mountains. There has to be additional funding to meet our needs."
- Drugs are rampant in rural areas, said Lark Pettit, president of the Needles Teachers Association. "We have a huge drug problem here. I'm a kindergarten teacher and a third of my students are drug babies. We have to address their needs."
- Educating children with special needs in rural districts can be challenging because of distances. Speech therapist K.C. Forbes, a member of the Trinity County Teachers Association, said he has to travel between 1.5 and 2 hours to visit each student.
- Teachers find it difficult to form partnerships with parents who live far away from schools. In addition, many work out in the fields without telephones.
Teachers were eager to share their ideas for solutions as well as their perception of problems.
"There needs to be some consolidation between districts, to save money on things like transportation costs," said Bob Borbe, a member of the Forestville Teachers Association. "But sometimes in small districts, school boards and parents don't want to work together with other districts."
"In our district, it takes 2.5 hours to get from one end to another," said Marni Kelsey, a member of the Mariposa County Teachers Association. "I think consolidation could be one solution. Where we can consolidate, we can save money."
Teachers shared ideas about getting parents involved in rural schools - especially migrant parents. Ideas included offering them transportation, free child care and potluck dinners, so they have no reason not to attend.
"It would be helpful for teachers to start educating parents," stated Charley James, a member of the Newman-Crows Landing Teachers Association. "We should let them know their children are not getting an equitable education based on inadequate funding levels from our government."
Patty Gunderson, a member of the Susanville Elementary Teachers Association, said that sharing problems and solutions was a good first step toward calling attention to the problems in rural schools.
"Sometimes we feel left out and we don't feel that we are getting the support from fellow teachers or legislators," she said. "But maybe we haven't been vocal enough ourselves."
"Maybe we need a lobbyist just for rural schools," offered Kelsey. "There needs to be some sensitivity among legislators about the uniqueness of rural school districts."
At the conclusion of the conference, Wayne Johnson let rural teachers know that CTA shares their concerns.
"Rural kids and teachers have been getting the short end of the stick for a long time now," he said. "It is definitely time for that to change."
