How well do you know your neighbors?
I grew up in a small town in northcentral Wisconsin. It was what I would call a tourist town, very popular in the summer for travelers and winter for ice fishing and hunting. I left there many years ago and cannot remember when I was there last. Now I am a district level school administrator in a small South Dakota town on the farthest northwestern corner of the state. I have lived in much larger communities throughout my career, but nothing compares to small towns.
Most experienced educators will tell you that larger school districts have more money and more resources. They may even say, smaller school districts lack the funds needed or even resources for teachers to do more with their students. I wanted to share my views on the true gifts I found in the smaller districts we so often overlook. They truly are gifts to all mankind.
The gift of Relationships. Yes, every teacher values the relationships they form with students in big and small school districts. Where I am at, the teachers have all been here for most of their careers and what that offers are richer relationships. Teachers have had parents of some of their students and not to mention all the siblings that come through our system. I cannot speak enough about the great individual relationships I see every day; it is amazing.
The gift of Perseverance. Our small rural community has a rancher’s mindset. We work hard from sunup to sundown, and we don’t give up. Most of our families own ranches and know the value of a hard day’s work. It is a constant grind and it wears on people. The citizens of this small community are constantly pushing forward. They are truly remarkable individuals.
The gift of Kindness. From time to time crisis hits every community. A terrible accident or someone gets severely ill. This small community rallys together to help one another through tough times and terrible situations. Small communities are family. We have seen small communities help other small communities in our area.
I share this post not because I feel they are only characteristics of small communities; I know what I am sharing are examples in every school district around our nation. Instead, I share these thoughts because they were on my heart and I wanted to share with everyone what I have witnessed in my small South Dakota community. These gifts are just a few examples that are important in our current times.
What relationships have been a gift to you?
Perseverance is in every educator’s DNA. Where are you showing perseverance in your work?
There is kindness everywhere. Where is it in your community or school?
