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Accentuating the positives of teaching and living in the country
by Dr. Greg Zost

You just can’t beat country living. I was born and raised in the country. I love to go fishing, take long walks alongside a field, inhale the scent of newly plowed soil, or the sweet smell of freshly cut hay. I can train my Labs for next pheasant season, stake out my newest hunting spot, or grill up some steaks for family and friends. It doesn’t take much to make me happy. In my opinion, we have so many good things in rural Nebraska, so why do we have a shortage of teachers?

It may be because teacher salaries are generally lower than in urban districts, but the real problem is  many newcomers to our communities do not come from the country. Because many of our smaller downtown shopping districts are not as vibrant as they used to be, newcomers may not be aware of the cultural experiences available in our community and surrounding area. That is why I believe rural communities and their schools should accentuate the positives of teaching and living in rural Nebraska.

Accentuate the positive.

We have positive characteristics that some people in larger urban areas can only dream about. We take pride in our communities and local organizations, we feel safe, and we also know when times become tough, support from our friends and neighbors will be there. These attributes should be promoted to new teachers and newcomers in general.

Our communities have their own unique heartbeat. Many of us are members of various social, business, or cultural organizations. Groups such as the local theater group, the lady’s guild, the chamber of commerce, a bowling league, or a local bridge club all provide the opportunity for community members to get together with people who share a common interest. These groups can serve as a way to connect newcomers with like-minded, long-time residents.

With this increased involvement comes a closer bond and a sense of pride in the community. A loose interpretation of an old saying would be “a group that works and plays together, stays together.” These personal associations also build pride in our schools; communities that are close knit are more supportive of their schools and their students. To me, rural communities are like an extended family. Here is a quote from a rural Nebraska teacher about how she feels like she is part of a larger family:

I would say the teachers…I mean everybody you work with, everybody for the most part gets along and everybody is interested in everybody else. It’s kind of a teacher family among the teachers because everybody knows what happens and is supportive of each other (Leslie).

If we can promote this welcoming and friendly attitude to newcomers it will serve to energize the whole community. In my opinion, people just want to feel accepted for who they are and appreciated for their contributions.

A great place to raise a family.

New teachers looking to relocate want a great place to raise their families and relocation decisions are often made on whether families feel that the schools and town are safe places for their children to learn and grow up. Nebraska’s rural communities are much safer than urban environments. For one thing, crime rates are lower — I know that I can leave my house unlocked while I run to town or leave the car running while I am in the post office, even though I would never do this in the city. Our children are involved in sports, outdoor activities, and clubs; not gangs. You’ll also find that our schools have fewer discipline problems and enjoy a higher degree of parental involvement than in urban districts. These characteristics are important to families seeking a safer and less stressful place to raise their children. I suggest we go out of our way to advertise these traits.

We should also promote ourselves as being supportive of others in our communities. Rural Nebraska is still a place where people believe in helping each other. If a citizen becomes ill, is involved in an accident, or needs help of any kind — we all pull together. Fund raising takes place and it becomes a community project. When we have a storm, volunteers are seen going around town helping with the debris. Local organizations pitch in for the benefit of all. Here is another quote that demonstrates the cooperative nature of our communities: We just had a severe ice storm here and we had branches all over and I had a yard full of down branches. So over Christmas, somebody--and I’m still trying to find out who--cleaned up my yard. That’s rural Nebraska (Janet).

What makes the country special.

New teachers and prospective residents need to hear about these types of actions. The supportive nature of our citizens may not be in our chamber of commerce pamphlets or on our community Websites, but it may well be a determining factor on whether a couple decides to relocate to one of our communities.

It is well known that our schools are not located in the cultural center of Nebraska, we don’t always have an abundance of shopping opportunities, or have the highest salaries in the state, but we do offer great opportunities and a quality of life that larger cities can not match. The opportunity to teach and live in a community with lower crime rates, tremendous community support, and vibrant organizations is what makes teaching and living in rural Nebraska so attractive. If our towns and schools promote their strengths, the perceived shortcomings may not seem as important. We need to focus on the quality of life in our community, so newcomers can also learn to appreciate what makes being from the country so special.

Dr. Greg Zost is an assistant professor of education at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska.

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