I think everyone else has done an awesome job of showing that this area and its people deserve respect and compassion when examining the culture and educational needs. There are a lot of areas that can be improved and I think that is why most of us want to be special educators. We see the issues and roadblocks children and families face and want to be part of the solution. I really like the quote that says, "One hundred years from now,It won't matter what car I drove,What kind of house I lived in,How much I had in my bank account,Nor what my clothes looked like,But, the world may be a little betterBecause I was important in the life of a child." On a personal note: Yes, I could move to Columbus and live with a lot more money in my bank account, drive a luxury car, and live in a huge house, but it is not what is most important to my family. I want my daughter to see her grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. weekly and get to go to the barn. She will show steers and experience the highs of winning and lows that come with losing and even losing a calf you have bottle fed for the last week. These experiences are priceless to me and teach life lessons that I don't think can be duplicated. These are my best memories and have made me the passionate person that I am. My daddy (yes it is an appalachian thing to call your father daddy as an adult) says he may have spent big bucks on a cow, but he never had to get any of us out of jail!
I had a very loving childhood and I think part of that was because of where I was raised. I was surrounded by family members and people who I consider family. I learned respect and the importance of manners, GOD, and family at an early age. I am not saying that this is Appalachian, but the things that were emphasized to my sisters and I are defintely part of the culture.

Autism Awareness

Hi guys! First off I'd like to say thank you for being so supportive during my little episode the other day.

Secondly... as you all probably already know, April is Autism Awareness month. I'm friends with some of the parents of H.O.P.E Intervention, an autism support group in our area. They are in the midst of organizing their sixth annual 5K walk for autism. The walk is April 19th at 11:00 a.m. in Gallipolis City Park. If you are interested in walking let me know, I have registration forms. They also need help collecting donations from area business to give away as prizes to the walkers. I don't know if that is something anyone would want to do or not? I wanted to bring this up at the CEC meeting but I'm not sure when the next one is and the walk is coming up soon.

Delayed Honesty

I do not believe that this is a black or white issue; that is why it is so thought provoking. This issue is a personal choice for each individual.These emotions come from a cultural viewpoint. The main point is that a person should consider the consequences of their actions and whether it is possible to take personal responsiblity. If a person would not be willing to accept the consequences, such as forfeiting a degree, than the person should not engage in activities such as plagarism. However, if the person is willing to pay an expensive speeding ticket, risk points on his/her driver's license, and pay higher insurance rates (being just a few possible consequences) than that person must feel that it is okay to speed. I believe that this is just a friendly reminder to consider the consequences before taking action.

Native Appalachians Beware Of Foreign Influence

The more I read this blog the more frustrated I get.
How in the world, are we suppose to all stay in one area?
Disadvantaged by not living where the students live?...Well Dr. S. I guess you should resign your position at the University of Rio Grande, because you don't live here. You're at a disadvantage.
Go back to where you came from!

I think what many of you have failed to realize is that while you may want to stay here, you may not have that as your number one option. I think we all would like to teach at our old stomping grounds to a certain degree but what guarantee do you have that positions are even going to be available when you graduate?

Are you seriously going to sit and wait for a job? How long?
Did anyone seriously get into this because they aspired to be a substitute teacher?
And if you do wait it out, who are you really helping?

I think many of you have already closed yourselves off both from an educational stand point as well as a professional stand point by locking in on one area, one geographic region, one culture, one way of life. You have already eliminated so many opportunities that your education will provide you. Which if you think about it isn't really a behavior trait or philosophy becoming of someone who should even be in this profession.

We are at a disadvantage only if we are unable to learn from our students just as much if not more than they do or will from us. And I didn't pull that from some book that's just common sense. It has nothing to do with geography or culture or living in the suburbs compared to the country, the ghetto or the trailer park. It's not about where you live it's can you adapt and evolve. Can you take your experience combine it with theirs' and find a common ground? A compromise if you will.

To borrow from a Bruce Lee philosophy, as educators I think we need to be like water. Able to fit into any container you pour us in. Be able to change forms if necessary. I think there are a lot of us that are ice. Big solid icebergs that don't wanna move unless some other force of nature makes us.

Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society by Donna M. Gollnick and Philip C. Chinn

This is a book from another class; these quotes struck me:
p.321 "Most teachers are at a disadvantage because they do not live, or have never live in the community in which their students live."


p.324 "Teachers who believe their own culture is superior to the students' cultures will not be able to build trust."

My Take...

Entry Level Pay Rates for Intervention Specialist

New York - $45,182
Houston - $41,138
Columbus - $33,433
Cincinnati - $30,465
Boston - $37,800
Phoenix - $36,000

I agree with you guys on many levels and don't on a lot more. It's definitely a matter of choice and personal preference but for me, there's a major lack of cultural diversity, a serious fear of change and seemingly want to stay stuck in the past. I think it would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to take what we've learned and give it to people that want it and need it just as much as anyone from Vinton, Jackson, Meigs, Athens, etc. and are willing to compensate us for it and give us the resources to actually do our jobs.

The biggest problem I have is when when you're a person who is a native of this area and you want to venture out it's almost like rather than be proud of someone from the area for making it out, they're often viewed as "sell-outs" or turning their back on the community, or even still people want to drop the old "you think you're better than everyone" phrase . It's like just because someone grows up here it doesn't mean they are suppose to carry the guilt and weight of an entire culture just because they've succeeded where others' have failed.

It's really a double edged sword, on the one hand there's the familiarity of the area and all that and on the other there's this overwhelming fear and seemingly endless want to blame everyone else for the problems of the region but ourselves. (government, corporations, etc.)

I totally dig you're guys' takes and opinions...it's just not my cup o'tea. Sure, these problems we face are not limited to this area, but I guess I sort of look at this in a sports analogy, once I graduate I'm a free agent, so whatever the best situation is professionally, financially, and culturally that's where I'm heading.

This is why I wont leave!

My two year old nephew playing with bubbles.