#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
I'm doing great! Parents were just in town visiting, and since I usually see them just twice a year now, it was a wonderful time. How are things over your way Robin? #RuralEdChat
That's great you could spend some time togethe :( We are feeling more settled into the school and work routines of the fall here. Leaves have even begun to change! #ruraledchat
I'm Robin from WI. I'm currently working in a public library as a youth program director and assistant to our director. I was formerly in the classroom and school library for 16 years. #RuralEdChat
We live in a very hilly area of the state and I often had to ride the bus with our volleyball team. Once on a particularly narrow and windy route, the bus felt like it was tipping and the bus driver said to me, "Whoa! I nearly dropped a wheel there." #RuralEdChat
A1: lack of drivers. I’ve been denied field trips not for lack of funds, but for lack of drivers for the bus! Part of the reason for long bus rides is not a lack of busses - but not enough drivers! #RuralEdChat
A1 Transportation costs are ever-increasing and put a strain on budgets. Many of students spend almost an hour on the bus both ways in the smallest districts in the region. #RuralEdChat
A1b: our town now out sources the bussing. It used to be by the school. Now a sub-contractor. They don’t pay well. Hard to keep drivers. #ruraledchat
A2: to avoid long waits by the road, or long rides, parents drive. But work schedules often force parents to drop Ss at school an hour or more early. We have kids arriving at 7am for an 8:20 school start time. 😳 #RuralEdChat
Your comment reminds me of this piece from NPR on a dad who was moved by seeing his kids wait for the bus so he embarked on a photography project to share how kids wait. https://t.co/ylvtnA00RH#RuralEdChat
A2: There's a lot of care that goes into any "stop by after school" activity or offer of help. Transportation was my gateway into all sorts of other equity issues around scheduling and presence. #RuralEdChat
The kiddo in his Halloween suit and the ones on a little patch of yard surrounded by snow were my favorites. Out here some families have little buildings constructed for the fierce winter waits. #ruraledchat
A2b: it's also incredible how supportive my school community seems to be in this regard. "Oh, I can make it, since my friend's cousin can give me a ride home after" is a connection for help I was privileged to rarely need to rely on. #RuralEdChat
A2: I'm sure it's not easy on parents that have to tell their kids that they can't participate in after school activities because "Mom/Dad need the car for work". #RuralEdChat
I teach in rural south west Arkansas but live 45 minutes away in north east Texas. I usually allow an extra 20 minutes each morning. #tractortraffic#RuralEdChat
A2b: Many of the families that have transportation issues are also the ones with connection issues. While I completely understand these families have different priorities (food on table), I wish there were more we could do to offset this imbalance.
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A2: 90% of our students population live more than half an hour from town. Sever weather can impact attendance. We even will pay parents to get kids here if they don't live close enough to a bus stop. It's a big deal. #RuralEdChat
A3: So many big activities have the followup announcement of, "if you need a ride, contact ". Big school trips, graduation, community events, football games in the town over, etc. #RuralEdChat
A3 At one point, one of the districts I worked in offered gas cards to families for special evening events. I'm not sure if they still do that or not. #ruraledchat
A3: Some schools offer time during the school day for extra curricular activities, but this is becoming less popular as testing becomes a priority. #RuralEdChat
A3b: My own high school (in the late 80's) offered an Activity bus that ran at 4:30 pm. The biggest problem is that there was only one bus and it could mean an additional hour or two to get home. #RuralEdChat
Last year I recall an initiative (somewhere else) looking at WiFi on busses for@those long rides. We don’t have cell coverage many places so that might not be workable here. #ruraledchat
A2b: Many of the families that have transportation issues are also the ones with connection issues. While I completely understand these families have different priorities (food on table), I wish there were more we could do to offset this imbalance.
#RuralEdChat
I've been thinking about that. Some buses are packed 3 to a seat without heat/ac. So now we're going to expect them to also try to focus on schoolwork? I'm not arguing either way. Just wondering out loud. #RuralEdChat
I wonder how many of our educational leaders (making policy) have ever actually road in a packed school bus on a sunny warm (hot) afternoon. It definitely isn't a thrill ride. #RuralEdChat
AHHHH TESTING!!! I lose so many days to testing! We're not state tested, and we're not a graduation requirement, so we're the bottom of that barrel. And that's for computer science! I feel like I'd be laughed out of town for suggesting extra curriculars get that time #RuralEdChat
Our busses are not that full.. too few kids in any direction. But yeah, I couldn’t work on a bus. I’d get motion sick! 😳 and what if they needed help? #ruraledchat
I've been thinking about that. Some buses are packed 3 to a seat without heat/ac. So now we're going to expect them to also try to focus on schoolwork? I'm not arguing either way. Just wondering out loud. #RuralEdChat
A4: Students with transportation issues can't stay after for extra help or even to participate in their school activities. This can lead to a lack of community being built. #RuralEdChat
It's crazy. The more I've learned, the more I try to build extra time into assignments. Nothing is due the next day, because what if that 2 hour bus ride is what Tuesday is every week? #RuralEdChat
Transportation isn't just about getting to school. If you are part of a virtual school, transportation is also about your internet connection. #RuralEdChat
"You're teaching 21st century skills! How can we help?!"
"Less student stress and time away for testing"
"oh, well, you're just an elective, so that's really tough"
uh...
#RuralEdChat
Transportation isn't just about getting to school. If you are part of a virtual school, transportation is also about your internet connection. #RuralEdChat
Yeah, "do this online or computer based assignment at home" is usually a no-go. We also can't expect them to have transportation to the library, or to stay late at school to use those resources. Typically, 1/3 of my programming class doesn't have a computer at home. #RuralEdChat
Transportation isn't just about getting to school. If you are part of a virtual school, transportation is also about your internet connection. #RuralEdChat
We're just the "specials" classes in elementary schools that can be yanked away from kids that may need us to help make the connections between subject areas. GRRR. #RuralEdChat
Transportation issues seem to be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to socio-economic problems. Those that can manage transportation well certainly have a huge advantage over those that can't. #RuralEdchat
Oh geez yes. "Why are young people less engaged as voters? Where has the appreciation for the arts gone?" Well, when you can't teach it early and often, and build it into the fabric of learning... #RuralEdChat
Q5 As we round the bend on the end of our time together, what other comments or questions do you have about transportation issues in rural schools? #RuralEdChat
For our class with computers, we do the same, and work with each student to figure out what adjustments they need to be successful. It's extra work, but I think some of the most valuable. #RuralEdChat
Time on the bus for me was a time to get to know my neighborhood friends better. It may have been the only time we were all together in one place. #RuralEdChat
Kids come in on Monday and leave on Friday. It's a short walk from the high school and for the most part behavior issues are minimal. It's the time away from famalies and the idol time all evening. Think of college but without the college. #RuralEdChat
I was definitely better able to figure out whom I wanted to know better and whom I never wanted to come over to my house. Valuable life lesson in there somewhere. #RuralEdChat
Not for school, but I encountered the same a few times over in Ireland and Scotland. The first time was preceded by a man coming down opposite us on a scooter yelling, "sheep comin'!", which we didn't understand at all. Boy did we learn. #RuralEdChat
Thanks, @robinhosemann for leading the Transportation in Rural Education conversation tonight. The wheels on the bus definitely went round and round all through the town tonight on #RuralEdChat
A5: Have your districts been able to capitalize on the time kids spend in busses? We've looked at wifi and chromebooks, tablets, etc with access to Google Classroom, but we have not really found a solution we are ready to jump on. #RuralEdChat
Q5 As we round the bend on the end of our time together, what other comments or questions do you have about transportation issues in rural schools? #RuralEdChat
Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight. We appreciate you sharing glimpses into the reality of transportation issues in your communities. #ruraledchat See you next week!
