Living in a rural area has its perks; however, your children’s education isn’t always one of them. There are several disadvantages of going to school in a rural community, so let’s highlight those problems and see if there’s anything you and the community can do to help.
Lack of Broadband Internet Service Providers
Those in urban communities can take broadband internet connectivity for granted. Not only is it very simple to sign up for rapid access, but city dwellers have many available providers. Unfortunately, rural communities still have difficulties getting quality internet service. Nearly 42 million Americans do not have high-speed internet, and most of them live in rural communities.
In remote places, a lack of broadband internet may significantly impact education. It makes it extremely difficult for many instructors to use digital course materials, but it also makes using learning management systems (LMSs) challenging.
Popular options for digital learning, like e-books and online collaboration tools, are also inaccessible with poor internet connectivity. Even simple tools like Google Docs might be difficult to use in rural schools. Measures to boost internet connection in rural regions are underway, but development is sluggish.
The Struggle To Hire Teachers
There is a surplus of excellent instructors in many metropolitan areas, but there aren’t enough jobs. Unfortunately, finding exceptional instructors in remote locations is often difficult. Regardless of the profession, employment in rural regions is scarce, with only so many jobs available.
Some folks cannot adapt to a rural lifestyle, growing quickly bored of the “simple life.” There is a great demand for teachers in these areas because many can’t stand the culture shock of leaving their city lives.
In truth, rural living and rural education have numerous advantages that cannot be found in major cities, such as safer environments, lower real estate costs, and a strong feeling of community. But if someone has their mind made up about rural living, they take those benefits with a grain of salt.
Long-Distance Traveling
Seeing kids walk to school is a common occurrence in the city. Sadly, it’s next to impossible for students to walk to school in a rural community unless they train for a marathon. This is because schools are often far from children’s homes.
Because surrounding regions may be rather extensive, arranging a ride to school is vital. Children will spend a good part of their day on buses, especially if they need to travel for athletic endeavors or academic competitions.
Many believe lengthy bus rides contribute to poor educational progress. It would make logical sense to create more schools to meet in the middle, but that requires significant funding, so long bus rides are necessary. School systems may consider adding used school buses to their fleet to continue to serve more students.
Regrettably, students are often at a disadvantage by going to school in a rural community, so it’s time to recognize their struggles and take action.
